Design and evaluation of a functional electrical stimulation system for hand sensorimotor augmentation.

The aim of this study was to perform a preliminary evaluation of a new method for therapeutic exercise of grasping in patients with upper limb disability. The new method combines active voluntary exercise augmented with electrical stimulation and controlled by using force feedback. The feedback has two functions: automatic control of the intensity of electrical stimulation by minimizing the tracking error, and biofeedback to the patient on the computer screen.

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation in combination with electrical stimulation: combined treatment in comparison to each treatment alone.

The objective of the study was a quantitative examination of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) exercise in simultaneous combination with FES of lower extremity muscles in comparison to voluntary movement, training with PNF alone, or training with FES alone. Two subjects were monitored during a one-month rehabilitation period. The PNF pattern included flexion, adduction, and external rotation of the hip, knee flexion, and dorsiflexion with inversion of the ankle, a pattern similar to the swing phase of walking.

Paraplegics standing up using multichannel FES and arm support.

The suitability of multichannel functional electrical stimulation (FES) during the standing-up manoeuvre for therapeutic home use was investigated. Two spinal cord-injured subjects (SCI) participated in the study. Ankle plantar flexors, knee extensors and hip extensors were stimulated.

Effects of respiratory muscle training and electrical stimulation of abdominal muscles on respiratory capabilities in tetraplegic patients.

Thirteen tetraplegic patients were included in the study of the effects of respiratory muscle training and of electrical stimulation of the abdominal muscles on their respiratory capabilities. Each patient was subjected for three 1 month lasting periods of the study: for inspiratory muscle training, expiratory muscle training and for a period without training. The sequence of these three periods was random for each patient.

Wireless control of functional electrical stimulation systems.

With the assistance of crutches and functional electrical stimulation (FES), we are able to restore standing and simple gait in some spinal cord injured (SCI) patients. In present rehabilitative systems, the patient divides the gait cycle into stance and swing phases via pushbuttons mounted on the handles of the crutches, which are hardwired to the functional electrical stimulator. The surface-mount technology based telemetry system, which makes use of the radiofrequency medium at 40 MHz, was developed to provide wireless control of the FES system.

Influence of electrically stimulated ankle plantar flexors on the swinging leg.

The influence of functional electrically stimulated ankle plantar flexors on the swinging lower extremity was studied in incomplete spinal cord injured persons. Stimulation sequences with different time and frequency parameters were delivered to ankle plantar flexors and knee extensors and to the peroneal nerve. The results of kinematic assessment showed that stimulated calf muscles provide noticeable forward and upward propulsion to the swinging leg.

Improvement in step clearance via calf muscle stimulation.

The aim is to study the influence of electrically stimulated calf muscles on the effectiveness of the swinging leg movement. The study is carried out with a group of patients with incomplete spinal cord injuries both under stationary conditions and during crutch-assisted walking. Before stimulation is applied to the ankle plantar flexors, the knee extensors are inactivated.

Functional electrical stimulation as an orthotic means for the rehabilitation of paraplegic patients.

In rehabilitating paraplegic patients the restoration of locomotion is often planned to enable the disabled person to use the wheelchair as little as possible or eventually even to abandon it. This objective is more easily obtained in those with incomplete spinal lesions. Applied with the view of restoring locomotion are various types of orthoses, but in the present paper the authors deal with functional electrical stimulation (hereinafter FES) as a means of restoring locomotion, demonstrating the advantages of FES over the use of classical orthoses.