Anyone use a Bioness device for foot drop?

Posted by sandy8043 @sandy8043, Apr 21 10:55am

Anyone have experience using a Bioness device for footdrop? My left leg wants to know. We are apparently no longer on speaking terms. She has a mind other own and enjoys making me fall flat on my face in public. Neuro recommend but PT has no experience with it.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group.

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Apr 23 12:21pm

@sandy8043 - your post cracked me up, I have to say. It's a great thing that despite the foot drop you are facing, which I assume is due to multiple sclerosis, you still have your sense of humor fully intact.

I'd like to tag some Mayo Clinic Connect members from different support groups around the community to chime in and share any experiences they may have with foot drop and/or with the Bioness or similar tech for foot drop and improved walking. Please meet, if you've not already, @chrisspiz @frenchie218 @jhill022757 @rob39 @alh123 @domiha @cekkk @robertsmithboca.

sandy8043 - have you had any minor or major injuries from your falls related to your foot drop?

frenchie218 | @frenchie218 | Apr 23 2:19pm

I would also like to hear about this, I have foot drop in both feet. I use 2 AFOs and either a cane or walker. I feel like the braces are further weakening my ankles and other parts of my feet. Any suggestions or comments would be great.

alh123 | @alh123 | Apr 23 4:04pm

In reply to @lisalucier "@sandy8043 - your post cracked me up, I have to say. It's a great thing that..." + (show)

I’ve never had a problem with foot drop on my journey . Not sure why I was
tagged. Many years ago one of my many Spinal Cord stimulators may have
been a Bioness. .

sandy8043 | @sandy8043 | Apr 23 5:59pm

In reply to @lisalucier "@sandy8043 - your post cracked me up, I have to say. It's a great thing that..." + (show)

@lisalucier Mostly skinned knees and elbows. A bruised ego takes longer to heal. 😂

clevertrousers | @clevertrousers | May 6 9:07pm

Hi, I used the old Bioness for many years (7) and it kept my calf muscle very strong—I really liked it.

I recently got the new one last year after not having a Bioness for awhile (I'd switched to different devices due to not being prepared to afford the cost of the new model when old one finally gave out) but my calf doesn't seem strong enough anymore for it to work correctly...

In the interim I'd switched to using a combination of the Cionic leg-sleeve for a few hours/day and a carbon-fiber brace from Germany the rest of the time, but just couldn't make the Cionic work for me well. I'm trying to go back to using the Bioness, hoping a few hours a day will get my calf stronger and the correct sensitivity back in order to use the device effectively again.

If you have any more questions about it, don't hesitate to ask!