It can be used not only with people who have had a stroke, but also people with spinal cord or head injuries, MS or cerebral palsy. It seems that it is particularly useful when people have spasticity - muscle stiffness. The simplest stimulator is one that activates the muscles that lift the foot during walking. A switch worn in the shoe triggers the stimulation and the electrical signals reach the muscles through electrodes stuck to the skin on the side of the leg, just below the knee. The stimulator is about the size of a pack of cards and can be worn at the waist on the belt or in a pocket.
Leads connect the stimulator to the switch in the shoe and the electrodes on the leg.
Research has shown that when stimulation is effective the person can walk faster, with less effort and with more confidence. Stimulators are continuing to be developed, computer technology is allowing them to be more finely controlled and more muscle groups can be stimulated to produce a more natural walking pattern. This diagram below shows the path of the common peroneal nerve that supplies the muscles that lift the foot. Precise positioning of the electrodes produces a natural ankle movement when the leg is swung forward during walking. The diagram shows the most commonly used electrode position.