FES on the peroneal nerve in stroke patients with drop foot has been reported to cause which outcome?

• A. Decrease in walking speed
• B. Improvement in walking speed
• C. No change in gait
• D. Worsening of foot drop

Answer: (B)

Stimulation of the peroneal nerve with FES aims to lift the front part of the foot during the swing phase in people who have drop foot after stroke. By activating the dorsiflexors (like the tibialis anterior) at just the right time, FES improves toe clearance, reduces toe drag, and makes the step smoother and more efficient. This typically lowers the energy cost of walking and often leads to a higher walking speed. So the outcome most consistently reported is an improvement in walking speed. The other options don’t reflect the functional goal of this intervention: it’s not expected to decrease speed, produce no change, or worsen foot drop.