# Effects of Electrical Stimulation Therapy for Residual Foot Drop Following Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Surgery: A Case Report

## TL;DR

A 70-year-old man with foot drop after spinal surgery improved using electrical stimulation therapies.

## Contribution

Demonstrates functional recovery using a combination of NMES and FES in post-surgery foot drop.

## Key findings

- NMES improved ankle dorsiflexor muscle contraction in a post-LSS surgery patient.
- FES during walking enhanced gait function and reduced fear of walking.
- Combined therapies led to functional recovery in residual foot drop.

## Abstract

This case report describes a patient with residual foot drop following lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) surgery, who demonstrated improvement after undergoing neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and functional electrical stimulation (FES). The patient, a 70-year-old man, had foot drop attributed to LSS. During the initial phase of treatment, NMES using high-voltage pulsed current was applied to facilitate contraction of the ankle dorsiflexor muscles. As his walking ability stabilized, FES was introduced during ambulation to support functional muscle activation. As a result, the patient experienced improvements in gait function, ankle dorsiflexion function, and fear of walking. This case suggests that in patients with residual foot drop after LSS surgery, a combination of NMES to enhance muscle contraction and FES to assist walking may contribute to functional recovery.