Delray Beach, Fla. (November 16, 2015) — Pinecrest Rehabilitation Hospital and Outpatient Therapy at Delray Medical Center acquires a new alternative to help combat foot drop – the inability to raise the front part of the foot due to weakness or paralysis of the muscles that lift the foot. Foot drop is often a result of damage to the central nervous system from conditions such as stroke, incomplete spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.

The WalkAide® System at Pinecrest, which can be used for inpatient and outpatient therapy, is a battery-operated electrical stimulator that is worn around the patient’s leg, just below the knee. It applies low-level electrical currents directly to a motor nerve in the leg, which prompts the muscles to raise the foot at the appropriate time, allowing the patient to walk more normally.

“This new equipment is designed to provide therapists with another tool to help patients return to their highest level of function,” said Mark Bryan, hospital CEO. “It is our goal at Delray Medical Center to continually enhance our services and give our patients the best available options.”

Unlike traditional bracing used to treat foot drop, the WalkAide® System’s highly sophisticated sensor eliminates the need for additional external wiring to insoles. This means that it may be worn barefoot or with flip-flops/slippers, if approved by a healthcare professional. Its compact size also allows it to be worn discreetly under most clothing.

In addition to improving the patient’s gait, medical benefits of WalkAide® may include a decrease in muscle disuse, decreased muscle weakness, increased local blood flow, improved muscle strength and voluntary motor control, increased joint range of motion, and enhanced function of the corticospinal pathways, resulting in improved lower limb control.

For outpatient tours, scheduling or for any questions, please call 561-495-9266.