Saving Life and Limb: FES for the Elderly With PAD

This study will evaluate an innovative approach to reduce the debilitating symptoms of
peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and ischemic pain during walking (intermittent
claudication) by using a new Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) system. The
investigators hypothesize that combining the FES and walking one hour/day (FES+Walk) will
significantly reduce pain during walking, improve locomotion, and enhance quality of life
when compared to walking one hour/day (Walk) alone after 8 weeks of intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients who:

1. Are ambulatory, community dwelling adults with evidence of PAD including
ankle/brachial index ABI=0.4-0.9

2. Have symptom severity of Fontaine stage II-III

3. Have a score of 24 or higher on the Folstein Mini Mental test

4. Have visible muscle contraction of the plantar flexor (PF) and dorsiflexor (DF)
muscles using FES

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients who:

1. Have an electronic implanted stimulator such as pacemaker, defibrillator, deep brain
stimulator, spinal cord stimulator

2. Are pregnant

3. Cannot walk without a walker or require human assistance to walk,

4. Present with arthritis or neurological damage resulting in paresis or paralysis of
the lower extremity

5. Have skin lesion(s) on the legs where the FES is placed