Effects of Augmented Reality with Functional Electric Stimulation on Muscle Strength, Balance and Gait of Stroke Patients

[Purpose] This study examined the therapeutic effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) with augmented reality (AR) during treadmill gait training on the muscle strength, balance and gait of stroke patients. [Subjects] Twenty-eight subjects with chronic stroke were divided into three groups: FES with AR during treadmill gait training (AR-FES group, n=9), gait training with FES on a treadmill (FES group, n=10), treadmill group (n=9). [Methods] All these groups were given 8 weeks of gait training 3 times a week, 20 minutes per session. To identify the effect of AR-FES, muscle strength was measured with a dynamometer, and the Berg balance scale (BBS) and timed upandgo (TUG) test were also assessed. [Results] The muscle strength increased significantly in the AR-FES and FES groups. The BBS showed a significant increase in all groups but there was no difference among the three groups. The TUG also improved significantly in all groups. The AR-FES group showed a better result than the treadmill group. [Conclusion] Although more study of gait training with FES on a treadmill and gait training with AR-FES will be needed, AR-FES improved the muscle strength and gait of stroke patients. These results suggest a variety of applications in clinical trials of conservative therapeutic methods.