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Updated: May 13, 2026
Force and Position Control in Humans - The Role of Augmented Feedback
Published on: June 19, 2016
Surface-distributed low-frequency asynchronous stimulation delays fatigue of stimulated muscles
Lana Z Popović Maneski1, Nebojša M Malešević, Andrej M Savić
1State University of Novi Pazar, Novi Pazar, Serbia; Tecnalia Serbia, Ltd., Vladetina 13, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia.
Introduction:
One important reason why functional electrical stimulation (FES) has not gained widespread clinical use is the limitation imposed by rapid muscle fatigue due to non-physiological activation of the stimulated muscles. We aimed to show that asynchronous low-pulse-rate (LPR) electrical stimulation applied by multipad surface electrodes greatly postpones the occurrence of muscle fatigue compared with conventional stimulation (high pulse rate, HPR).
Methods:
We compared the produced force vs. time of the forearm muscles responsible for finger flexion in 2 stimulation protocols, LPR (fL = 10 Hz) and HPR (fH = 40 Hz).
Results:
Surface-distributed low-frequency asynchronous stimulation (sDLFAS) doubles the time interval before the onset of fatigue (104 ± 80%) compared with conventional synchronous stimulation.
Conclusions:
Combining the performance of multipad electrodes (increased selectivity and facilitated positioning) with sDLFAS (decreased fatigue) can improve many FES applications in both the lower and upper extremities.
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