Stance controlled knee flexion improves stimulation driven walking after spinal cord injury

Functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) can help people with spinal cord injuries walk by using electrical signals to activate paralyzed muscles. This study explores combining FNS with a special knee brace that allows controlled knee bending during the stance phase of walking. The study compared walking with FNS alone (keeping the knee stiff) to using FNS with the controllable knee brace (VIKM-HNP). The goal was to see if allowing the knee to bend during stance could improve the walking motion. The results showed that the knee brace helped the person walk with a more natural knee motion. It also made it easier to shift weight onto the leg and improved the overall walking pattern.

• 1
  Stance phase knee angle was more natural during VIKM-HNP gait while knee hyperextension persisted during stiff-legged FNS-only walking.
• 2
  During loading response phase, vertical ground reaction force was less impulsive and instantaneous gait speed was increased with VIKM-HNP, suggesting that knee flexion assisted in weight transfer to the leading limb.
• 3
  Enhanced knee flexion during pre-swing phase also aided flexion during swing, especially when response to stimulation was compromised.