Healthy Outlook Blog

Christina Santhouse, 23, of Bristol, Pennsylvania, began using the wireless stimulator three months ago. “My friends and family can see a huge difference in how I walk and I feel much more comfortable venturing out in difficult terrain,” she says. “Previously, my gait was majorly off and a lot of people compared me to a stroke victim.”

Her symptoms began 16 years ago during a family vacation to the New Jersey shore, when her left foot began shaking uncontrollably. Then age six, Christina was diagnosed with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis, a rare brain disease that can trigger frequent seizures, paralysis on one side of the body, and other impairments. “Eventually, I was having up to 100 grand mal seizures a day,” recalls Christina. To stop the seizures, doctors had to remove the diseased right side of her brain.

After the 1996 surgery, she developed partial paralysis of her left arm, along with foot drop. “I needed a brace to support my left leg when I walked,” she says. “I called it ‘my best friend,’ because without it, I’d stumble and fall.” But even with the rigid plastic ankle-and-foot brace, her stride was awkward. “All the brace did was hold my foot in a fixed position. I had to swing my leg out wide to walk and didn’t have any control over my gait.”

Despite these disabilities—and only having half a brain—Christina was a straight-A student. In May, she received her master’s degree in speech pathology. With the NESS L300, she reports, “my walking is now 90% better, which made a huge difference in my demeanor during job interviews.” And now that she’s landed a job in her field, Christina hopes to help people who are battling speech impairments. “I feel very confident and have a positive outlook as I start my new profession.”

Connect the Dots
Symptoms of foot drop include pain, weakness or numbness, trouble lifting the front of your foot or dragging it as you walk, and raising your thigh with each step as if you were climbing stairs. It typically only affects one foot, but it’s possible for both feet to be impaired. Consult a doctor if you have any of these warning signs.

Treatment may involve ankle-foot orthotics (leg braces and shoe inserts), physical therapy, devices to stimulate the peroneal nerve, or in some cases, surgery. To find out more about the NESS L300, Foot Drop System, visit the Bioness website. Ask your doctor or physical therapist what type of treatment is best for you.