• Nathaniel S Makowski, Rudi Kobetic, Lisa M Lombardo, Kevin M Foglyano, Gilles Pinault, Stephen M Selkirk, and Ronald J Triolo.
• From the Advanced Platform Technology Center (NSM, RK, LML, KMF, GP, SMS, RJT) and Functional Electrical Stimulation Center (NSM, SMS), Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio; and Departments of Neurology (SMS), Orthopaedics (RJT), and Biomedical Engineering (RJT), Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
• Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2016 Dec 1; 95 (12): 880-888.

ObjectiveThe objective of this work was to quantify the effects of a fully implanted pulse generator to activate or augment actions of hip, knee, and ankle muscles after stroke.DesignThe subject was a 64-year-old man with left hemiparesis resulting from hemorrhagic stroke 21 months before participation. He received an 8-channel implanted pulse generator and intramuscular stimulating electrodes targeting unilateral hip, knee, and ankle muscles on the paretic side. After implantation, a stimulation pattern was customized to assist with hip, knee, and ankle movement during gait.The subject served as his own concurrent and longitudinal control with and without stimulation. Outcome measures included 10-m walk and 6-minute timed walk to assess gait speed, maximum walk time, and distance to measure endurance, and quantitative motion analysis to evaluate spatial-temporal characteristics. Assessments were repeated under 3 conditions: (1) volitional walking at baseline, (2) volitional walking after training, and (3) walking with stimulation after training.ResultsVolitional gait speed improved with training from 0.29 m/s to 0.35 m/s and further increased to 0.72 m/s with stimulation. Most spatial-temporal characteristics improved and represented more symmetrical and dynamic gait.ConclusionsThese data suggest that a multijoint approach to implanted neuroprostheses can provide clinically relevant improvements in gait after stroke.To Claim Cme CreditsComplete the self-assessment activity and evaluation online at http://www.physiatry.org/JournalCME CME OBJECTIVES:: Upon completion of this article, the reader should be able to do the following: (1) Describe the rationale for evaluating a multijoint implanted neuroprosthesis to improvewalkingafter stroke; (2)Understand the study design and conclusions that can be inferred as a result of the design; and (3) Discuss the statistical significance and clinical relevance of changes between (a) volitional walking at baseline, (b) volitional walking after training, and (c) walking with stimulation after training.LevelAdvanced ACCREDITATION:: The Association of Academic Physiatrists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Association of Academic Physiatrists designates this activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

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