Michaelene Needham, has multiple sclerosis and relied on a cane and then a walker for years. Now the mother of three is finding new mobility and energy for her busy life.

Needham, like other people with upper motor neuron injuries including stroke, spinal cord injury and cerebral palsy, can now walk with greater ease using the Walk-Aide System. The WalkAide is an orthotic device made by Innovative Neurotronics that helps people with foot drop, a condition that inhibits a person's ability to raise the front part of the foot.

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2006, the WalkAide uses advanced sensor technology to analyze the movement of the leg and foot. The system sends electrical signals to the peroneal nerve, which controls movement in the ankle and foot. Gentle electrical impulses activate the muscles to raise the foot at the appropriate time during the step cycle.

The device, which is the size of a pager and fits just below the knee, includes a control unit, a flexible cuff and two electrodes. It must be prescribed by a doctor and, in Illinois, fitted by a licensed orthotist who has completed the WalkAide training program.............

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