Under each 2MWT condition, the subjects were instructed to walk as far as they could, at their self-selected normal walking speed, back and forth along a 50-meter hallway, turning around each time they reached the end of the walkway. The distance walked in two minutes has been shown to correlate well with the longer 6- and 12-minute selleck chemicals llc walk tests [18] and was selected to minimize fatigue effects.Average gait speed was determined by dividing the distance covered in two minutes by 120 seconds. The gait asymmetry index was measured and calculated as a marker of interlimb coordination, as follows: 100 �� (swing time paretic ? swing time nonparetic)/(swing time paretic + swing time nonparetic). When the swing asymmetry index = 0, gait is perfectly symmetrical, while higher scores indicate a lack of symmetry, a measure that has been associated with poor balance and a high risk for falls [4, 19].

The percentage of a single-stance phase was calculated as the percentage of time in the gait cycle spent as single stance on the paretic limb (equal to the swing phase of the nonparetic limb). To imitate daily life situations, average gait speed was also determined by measuring the time spent to walk 10m over an obstacle course, using the protocol in the Emory Functional Ambulation Profile [20]. Finally, a feedback questionnaire was filled out by the subjects at the end of the study period in order to evaluate their perceptions regarding the usability of the FES system.2.4. Statistical AnalysisFour gait parameters were defined: (1) two-minute gait velocity, (2) obstacle course gait velocity, (3) the asymmetry index, and (4) the percentage of a single-stance phase on the paretic limb.

Descriptive statistics included means and standard deviations (SD) for numerical variables and frequencies for categorical variables. Due to the lack of normal distribution, nonparametric analysis was used. Friedman’s test was used to compare results of the three gait conditions (i.e., no stimulation, peroneal FES alone, and peroneal and thigh FES) at baseline (T1) and after six weeks (T2). Post hoc analysis comparing all pairs of conditions (separately at T1 and T2) was performed using Holm’s method for multiple comparisons. Wilcoxon’s matched pairs test was used to compare between the performances at T1 and T2 during the combined peroneal and thigh FES. Significance was determined at P < 0.

05. For Friedman’s and Wilcoxon’s matched pairs tests, P values of < 0.0125 (0.05/4) were considered as significant after applying the Bonferroni correction. For the post hoc analysis, critical values were determined according to Holm's method.3. Results3.1. Subjects CharacteristicsOf the 48 subjects who were recruited to the study, three subjects withdrew consent after one week Drug_discovery due to their inability to attend follow-up visits.