A methodology for definition of neuromuscular electrical stimulation sequences: an application toward overcoming small obstacles

Author

Quevedo, Antonio A F ; Patla, Aftab E. ; Cliquet, Alberto, Jr.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Biomed. Eng., State Univ. of Campinas, Brazil

Volume

5

Issue

1

fYear

1997

fDate

3/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

30

Lastpage

39

Abstract

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is an important tool for research in the rehabilitation of lost movements in spinal cord injured patients. However, for NMES to be used outside the laboratory setup, the stimulation controller needs to be able to cope with challenging environmental conditions. A methodology to allow conversion of any specific motor task used to cope with one of these environmental conditions toward a control algorithm for NMES is proposed. The methodology was used in the definition of a stimulation sequence that allows overcoming small obstacles by the spinal cord injured patient. Simulations have proven the method feasibility, and clinical trials have confirmed these findings. Motor task conversion using the kinematic approach has shown better results than that of muscle activity

Keywords

bioelectric phenomena; biomechanics; muscle; neurophysiology; patient treatment; challenging environmental conditions; clinical trials; control algorithm; kinematic approach; laboratory setup; lost movements rehabilitation; motor task conversion; muscle activity; neuromuscular electrical stimulation sequences; overcoming small obstacles; specific motor task; spinal cord injured patients; stimulation controller; Biomedical engineering; Control system analysis; Control systems; Electrical stimulation; Humans; Legged locomotion; Motor drives; Muscles; Neuromuscular; Spinal cord;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Rehabilitation Engineering, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1063-6528

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/86.559347

Filename

559347