Standing-up exerciser based on functional electrical stimulation and body weight relief

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Neuroprosthetics
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Paraplegic patients face challenges with standing due to impaired neuromuscular function.
• Existing assistive technologies for standing often require significant external support or complex user control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an innovative computer-controlled system for assisting paraplegic patients in standing up.
• To assess the safety, reliability, and efficacy of the system through patient testing.

Main Methods:

• Development of a system including a computer-controlled stimulator, surface electrodes for quadricep stimulation, knee angle sensors, a PID controller, and a weight-relieving device.
• Creation of a biomechanical model to optimize the controller's reference trajectory.
• Testing the system on three paraplegic patients, including a 30-session training period for one patient.

Main Results:

• The system was demonstrated to be reliable and safe across all tested patients.
• One patient significantly improved, reducing body weight relief needed for standing from 62% to 45% after 30 training sessions.
• The closed-loop controller effectively maintained upright posture, minimized stimulation, compensated for muscle fatigue, and smoothed movements.

Conclusions:

• The developed system offers a promising assistive technology for paraplegic standing training.
• The results indicate the potential for improved functional independence and reduced reliance on external support for paraplegic individuals.
• Further research should consider the system's performance in highly non-linear biomechanical conditions.