Comparison of Different Treatment Methods for Gait Rehabilitation of Sub-Acute Post Stroke Patients With Dropped Foot

The investigators hypothesize that the gait pattern of following the utilization of a functional electrical stimulation device will be much improved when compared to the effect of regular gait re-education with ankle-foot-orthosis (AFO) fitting in patients in early stages following stroke.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Sub-acute stroke patients suffering a first stroke with clinical presentation, according to the WHO definitions
• Patients suffering from unilateral foot drop
• Independent ambulation before the stroke
• Cognitive and cooperative ability to follow simple instructions
• Neurological condition severity mild to moderate (between 3 and 15, according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; NIHSS).
• Ability to walk with or without a walking aid (cane, walker), with or without assistance. Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC) of at least 2
• Independently capable to understand an informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cognitive disorders preventing the subject from understanding the trial protocol or following the researcher's instructions
• Orthopaedic injury to the paretic or non-paretic limbs
• Motor disability due to neurological diagnosis, e.g. multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, and Parkinson
• Peripheral injury of the peroneal nerve or sciatic nerve
• Pregnant or nursing females