The main functions of a method of functional electrical stimulation of muscles (FES) are described: diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic. The main indication for using the FES method is a deficiency of muscle function, which may be organic (due to lesions to neuromuscular structures) or functional (associated with relaxation of the muscular apparatus). The five most significant functions of the FES method were established: 1) identification of correctable movements and stimulable muscles; 2) identification of the amplitude and time program for stimulation; 3) stimulation regimes for pathological gaits; 4) stimulation parameters; 5) positioning of skin electrodes on the human body. Using the example of two severe central nervous system pathologies (spinal cord lesions in the lumbosacral area and hemiparesis of cerebral origin), the positive effects of FES on the process of motor rehabilitation of this category of patients were demonstrated.
Biomechanic and innervation structure of gait in patients with sequelae of cervical spine and spinal cord injury was considered. It was shown that the main indices of gait (mean speed of movement, rate, step length) had deteriorated, stability during the gait (increased duration of bearing and double-bearing phase) was decreased, amplitude of angular movements in leg joints was decrease, reduction and deformity of the components of main vector of bearing reaction took place. Electric activity of the majority of lower extremity muscles was decreased and its maximum was translated to the right along the time axis. It was shown that the shift of muscle activity maximum was caused by translation of vertical load into the middle part of bearing phase on account of use of an additional support (stick, crutches). It was noted that deterioration of all gait indices especially the decrease of mean speed of movement depended on aggravation of the pathology. Biomechanic and neurophysiologic interpretation of data obtained was presented.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.