During gait, when should the stim activate for foot drop?

During gait, when should the stim activate for foot drop?

• A. Heel strike
• B. Swing phase
• C. Stance phase during weight-bearing
• D. Toe-off

Answer: (B)

The key idea is to assist dorsiflexion exactly when the foot needs to clear the ground — during the swing phase of gait. When the foot is swinging forward, the ankle tends to drop into plantarflexion if the dorsiflexors are weak, risking toe drag. Activating the NMES at the start of swing lifts the foot so it clears the floor, helping the step progress safely. If stimulation happened at heel strike or during stance, it wouldn’t help with clearance when the foot is in the air and could even disrupt weight-bearing control. Stimulating at toe-off is too late to prevent toe drag, since the critical clearance issue occurs earlier in the swing.

The key idea is to assist dorsiflexion exactly when the foot needs to clear the ground — during the swing phase of gait. When the foot is swinging forward, the ankle tends to drop into plantarflexion if the dorsiflexors are weak, risking toe drag. Activating the NMES at the start of swing lifts the foot so it clears the floor, helping the step progress safely.

If stimulation happened at heel strike or during stance, it wouldn’t help with clearance when the foot is in the air and could even disrupt weight-bearing control. Stimulating at toe-off is too late to prevent toe drag, since the critical clearance issue occurs earlier in the swing.