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Further Development of Hybrid Functional Electrical Stimulation Orthoses
Author(s) -
Yang L.,
Granat M.H.,
Paul J.P.,
Condie D.N.,
Rowley D.I.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
artificial organs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.684
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1525-1594
pISSN - 0160-564X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1594.1997.tb04648.x
Subject(s) - crutch , functional electrical stimulation , ankle , physical medicine and rehabilitation , swing , preferred walking speed , gait , knee joint , knee flexion , medicine , computer science , stimulation , engineering , surgery , structural engineering , mechanical engineering
In this study two aspects of hybrid functional electrical stimulation (FES)orthoses were investigated: joint motion constraints and FES controlstrategies.First, the effects of joint motion constraints on the gait of normal subjectswere investigated using modern motion analysis systems, includingelectromyogram (EMG) and heart ratemeasurements. An orthosis was developed to impose joint motion constraints; theknee and ankle could be fixed or free, and the hip joint could rotateindependently or coupled,according to a preset flexion‐extension coupling ratio (FECR). Compared with a1:1 hip FECR, a 2:1 hip FECR was associated with a reduced energy cost andincreased speedand step length. The knee flexion during swing significantly reduced energycost and increased walking speed. Ankle plantar flexion reduced the kneeflexing moment during the earlystance phase. Second, trials on 3 paraplegic subjects were conducted toimplement some of these findings. It appeared that the 2:1 FECR encouraged hipflexion and made legswing easier. A simple FES strategy increased walking speed and step length andreduced crutch force impulse using fixed orthotic joints.