Showing papers on "Functional electrical stimulation published in 1977"

Improvement of gait following functional electrical stimulation. I. Investigations on changes in voluntary strength and proprioceptive reflexes.

Abstract: Patients with central spastic paresis and equipped with peroneal stimulators sometimes experience an improvement in their gait, even when the stimulator has been switched off. The object of the present investigation was to reach a better understanding of the mechanisms operating in such cases. 7 patients were investigated on repeated occasions. It was found that some of these patients got a clear increase in isometric strength of foot dorsiflexion following 10 min of peroneal stimulation. In other cases the increase was only slight. There was an inverse relation between the increase and the strength before stimulation. The increase of strength was due, at least partly, to an increased ability to activate the foot dorsiflectors, since there was a simultaneous increase in the EMG from the anterior tibial muscle. Evidence was also obtained suggesting that the increase in strength involved not only foot dorsiflexion but also plantarflexion of the foot end extension of the knee. Following peroneal stimulation there was also a decrease of the achilles reflex and in some cases possibly also the patellar reflex. There was an inverse relation between the decrease in the achilles reflex and its strength before stimulation. It is probable that the changes in voluntary strength and reflex activity reflect conditions which can be of importance in explaining the gait improvement which is sometimes observed in patients equippped with peroneal stimulators.

Functional electrical stimulation of the extremities: Part 1

Abstract: Functional electrical stimulation of the extremities (FES) is a new method for the rehabilitation of paralysed paretic patients. Small, electronic stimulators are worn by the patient, who can voluntarily control the electrical currents applied to his paralysed muscle. These currents activate the disabled extremities and make them at least partially functional once more. This paper presents a short history of FES and discusses recent advances and problems in the field. A detailed account of present work with single- and multi-channel stimulation of paralysed legs is given, as well as some research data on upper extremity stimulation.

Use of electrical stimulation in external control of motor activity and movements of human extremities. Actual situation and problems.

Abstract: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is used in control of motor activity and movements in patients suffering movement handicaps due to central nervous system damage. The method is analyzed from the viewpoint of physical medicine, biocybernetics and technological development. Systems developed to date are presented and a critical survey of the method in light of indications is provided. Special attention is devoted to the present applicability of the systems of FES and to their potential use.

Multichannel functional electrical stimulation--facts and expectations.

Abstract: Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) was started with the simple and ingenious idea of Liberson et af. (1961) of lifting the drop-foot of a hemiplegic patient with a portable electronic stimulator. For the past ten years rather intensive research has been conducted in this area to test further possible applications of functional electrical stimulation. It was obvious that technological and cosmetic improvements of the singlethannej peroneal brace could not be the ultimate goal of functional stimulation. Therefore we tried to visualize some possible long-range goals of FES from the beginning of our research. Thus, we have always felt that the potential of FES lay in complex multichannel-systems which could provide much more than simple dorsiflexion of the foot. In this paper we attempt to show some results of these investigations. Expectations of Multichannel FES When our group started systematic work in this area about ten years ago, we had well