Functional electrical stimulation-assisted cycling of patients with multiple sclerosis: biomechanical and functional outcome--a pilot study.

Objective: To determine whether functional electrical stimulation-supported ergometric training of patients with multiple sclerosis has a prosthetic or therapeutic effect on biomechanical (power, smoothness of cycling) and functional outcomes (walking capability, strength of muscle, spasticity).

Design: Twelve subjects with multiple sclerosis participated in an electrical stimulation-supported ergometric training (3 sessions/week for 2 weeks). Measurements were made in a cross-over design to study prosthetic (with and without stimulation) and therapeutic effects (before and after training).