A biomechanical cause of low power production during FES cycling of subjects with SCI.

Background: The goal of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) cycling is to provide the health benefits of exercise to persons with paralysis. To achieve the greatest health advantages, patients should produce the highest possible mechanical power. However, the mechanical power output (PO) produced during FES cycling is very low.

Comparison of torque and discomfort produced by sinusoidal and rectangular alternating current electrical stimulation in the quadriceps muscle at variable burst duty cycles.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation burst duty cycle (BDC) and current type (sinusoidal alternating current [sAC] vs. rectangular alternating current [rAC]) on the electrically induced isometric torque (EIT) and discomfort. Pulsed current (PC) stimulation, which corresponds to one pulse rAC, was included in testing.

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).

A comparison of functional electrical and magnetic stimulation for propelled cycling of paretic patients.

Objective: To compare isometric torque and cycling power, smoothness and symmetry using repetitive functional magnetic stimulation (FMS) and functional electrical stimulation (FES) in patients with paretic legs with preserved sensibility and in patients without sensibility.

Design: Repeated-measures design.

Setting: Laboratory setting.

Changes in spastic muscle tone increase in patients with spinal cord injury using functional electrical stimulation and passive leg movements.

Objective: Comparison of cycling interventions to reduce spastic muscle tone increase in patients with spinal cord injury.

Setting: Neuroprosthetic outpatient clinic in a university hospital.

Methods: Five patients with spinal cord injury took part in a crossover study in which the lower limbs (1) were stimulated by functional neuromuscular electrical stimulation (FES) to induce leg cycling movements and (2) were passively moved by an ergometer machine.

Improving functional electrical stimulation driven cycling by proper synchronization of the muscles.

Our aim is to define optimal stimulation patterns for controlling lower limb movements of spinal cord injured patients. Here we report on a study about cycling movements of healthy subjects under regular conditions and spinal cord injured patients whose cycling movement was generated by functional electrical stimulation. The stimulation pattern required for coordinated activities of lower limb muscles of spinal cord injured patients was improved by using the observations what we gained from measuring and analyzing cycling movements of 42 young healthy subjects.

FES cycling reduces spastic muscle tone in a patient with multiple sclerosis.

We report on a multiple sclerosis patient who received functional electrical stimulation to reduce spastic muscle tone of the lower limbs. Stimulation by means of surface electrodes applied to the thigh muscles induced cycling leg movements. Spastic muscle tone was measured clinically using the modified Ashworth scale and semiautomatically by pendulum testing of spasticity.

Functional output improvement in FES cycling by means of forced smooth pedaling.

Purpose: Investigation of the influence of forced smooth and normal (nonsmooth) pedaling on the functional output of outdoor functional neuromuscular electrical stimulation (FES)-propelled cycling of spinal cord-injured subjects.

Subjects: Twelve subjects with complete spinal cord injury (T4-T12) and limited previous FES training.

Method: Each subject participated in two separate outdoor sessions: once while pedaling a tricycle in a fixed gear, and a second time while free pedaling the same tricycle; both times with FES.

Low-frequency rectangular pulse is superior to middle frequency alternating current stimulation in cycling of people with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of using modulated middle frequency alternating current (MFAC) muscle stimulation for functional electric stimulation-propelled cycling by people with spinal cord injury (SCI) compared with the conventional method of using standard low-frequency rectangular pulses (LFRP).

Design: Repeated-measures.

Setting: Laboratory setting.