Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering, 2019 · DOI: 10.1177/2055668319825808 · Published: January 1, 2019
Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is used to help people with spinal cord injuries move paralyzed muscles. However, muscle fatigue limits its effectiveness. This study explores different stimulation patterns using multiple electrodes and doublet pulses to reduce muscle fatigue. Synchronous, asynchronous sequential (AsynS), and asynchronous random (AsynR) stimulation patterns were compared. The asynchronous methods mimic voluntary muscle activation and target different motor units. The study found that asynchronous stimulation may improve fatigue resistance in functional electrical stimulation applications.
Asynchronous stimulation patterns can be utilized to reduce muscle fatigue during FES, potentially improving the effectiveness and duration of FES-based therapies.
The random asynchronous stimulation (AsynR) shows potential for improved performance by reducing muscle fatigue. This could be incorporated into clinical settings.
Ultrasound imaging can be used to monitor muscle deformation and fatigue during FES, providing valuable feedback for optimizing stimulation parameters.