An Experimental Facility using Functional Electrical Stimulation for Stroke Rehabilitation of the Upper Limb

A summary of the design and functionality of a robotic workstation that has been constructed for use by stroke patients in order to improve voluntary control of their impaired arm is first given in this paper. The patient´s task will be to track an elliptical trajectory using voluntary control with the addition of surface FES applied to muscles in their shoulder and arm. This work then comprises results of a preliminary study to this project in which unimpaired subjects track a series of trajectories using, firstly, only voluntary action, and secondly, using stimulation applied to their triceps muscle only, and with no voluntary control. Results obtained from the study of EMG signals relating to the former case illustrate the activation patterns generated when performing the reaching tasks and confirm the choice of muscles that will be stimulated in the main study. Experimental results from the latter tests are then presented to highlight the performance that can be achieved when using only the application of FES to accomplish the reaching tasks.