An adaptive reﬂexive control strategy for walking assistance system based on functional electrical stimulation

Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2022 · DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.944291 · Published: August 24, 2022

Simple Explanation

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a technology used for gait rehabilitation, especially for patients with stroke or spinal cord injuries. This study introduces an adaptive reﬂexive FES controller integrated with an iterative learning algorithm to improve lower limb assistance. The system utilizes a real-time gait phase detection to accurately time the stimulation. The controller adjusts stimulation sequences based on differences observed in the previous five gait cycles, adapting to the individual’s needs and walking speed. Experiments with healthy participants showed improved joint movement in the hip, knee, and ankle compared to systems without the adaptive controller, suggesting potential for enhancing motor relearning and neural plasticity.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

10 healthy young adults

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The adaptive FES controller effectively adjusts stimulation sequences for individual participants at various treadmill walking speeds.
2
The adaptive controller improved the maximum, minimum, and range of motion (ROM) of the hip, knee, and ankle joints.
3
The adaptive reﬂexive FES control strategy led to a larger range of motion in the hip, knee and ankle joints compared to the purely reﬂexive FES control strategy.

Research Summary

This study introduces an adaptive reﬂexive control strategy for a multiple-channel FES walking assistance system. It aims to improve gait rehabilitation by adjusting electrical stimulation parameters based on real-time gait parameters. The system uses a real-time gait phase detection system and an iterative learning algorithm to generate fitted stimulation sequences for each participant during various treadmill walking speeds. Experiments on healthy participants demonstrated improved joint kinematics, indicating the system's potential to enhance motor relearning and promote neural plasticity.

Practical Implications

Personalized Rehabilitation

The adaptive system can tailor stimulation parameters to individual needs and walking speeds, leading to more effective rehabilitation outcomes.

Enhanced Motor Relearning

By improving joint movement and muscle activation, the system can potentially promote motor relearning and neural plasticity in patients with gait disorders.

Clinical Application Potential

The system has the potential to be applied in clinical settings to assist patients with stroke or spinal cord injuries in regaining their walking ability.

Study Limitations

1
The experiment only recruited healthy young men, and the subject size was relatively small.
2
The enrolled healthy young subjects have intact motor units and good muscle responses to electrical stimulation compared to patients with stroke who usually have muscular atrophy combined with a damaged perception level.
3
We did not observe eﬀective PW parameter adjustment for LG muscles during treadmill walking.

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