Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 2022 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-022-01018-2 · Published: April 5, 2022
FES-Cycling enables individuals with spinal cord injuries to exercise paralyzed muscles by activating specific muscles at the correct times. The study introduces an algorithm, OIDA, that uses torque feedback from a crank power-meter to identify optimal stimulation intervals for muscles during FES-Cycling. The algorithm's functionality was demonstrated on a subject with complete SCI, showing successful identification of stimulation intervals for quadriceps and hamstring muscles, leading to smooth cycling.
The automatic determination of stimulation patterns can significantly shorten the initial fitting phase, improving user experience.
Optimized stimulation patterns based on net-torque enhance the smoothness and efficiency of pedaling during FES-Cycling sessions.
The algorithm's independence from constant angular velocity facilitates its implementation in mobile FES-Cycling systems, expanding accessibility.