Objectives. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate myoelectrically controlled functional electrical stimulation (MeCFES) for enhancing the tenodesis grip in people with tetraplegia. The second aim was to estimate the potential number of candidates for the MeCFES device. The application of MeCFES provides the user with direct control of the grasp force as opposed to triggered FES systems. Methods. Screening 253 medical records of C5 to C7 spinal cord injury resulted in 27 participants who trained activities of daily living for 12 × 2 hours, using the MeCFES. Hand function was evaluated by the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT). Primary outcome was the ARAT change score with/without the device, before/after the intervention period. Secondary outcome was the number of positive or clinically relevant change scores with respect to the cohort. Results. The MeCFES improved hand test score in 63% of the subjects at first application. Training resulted in a significant therapeutic effect, which resulted in an overall increase of hand function in 89% of the participants and 30% experienced a clinically relevant change (6 points or more). Conclusions. Clinical relevance was found both as an assistive aid and as a therapeutic tool in rehabilitation. The therapeutic effect deserves further investigation in clinical studies.
Abstract-We demonstrated a method for enhancing the tenodesis grip in individuals with sustained tetraplegia with spinal cord lesion at the C6-C7 neurological level. Subjects used the myoelectric activity from wrist extensor muscles to directly control the electrical stimulation of the extrinsic finger and thumb flexors (flexor pollicis longus and flexor digitorum superficialis/profondus) with the use of a specially designed system, Myoelectrically Controlled Functional Electrical Stimulation (MeCFES). We screened 20 medical records and selected 9 subjects. Of the nine subjects, five showed a positive response to the surface stimulation and could test the system; the other four failed to achieve functional finger flexion because of skin sensitivity or inadequate movement. We evaluated hand function, with and without the MeCFES system, using tests involving three everyday objects: manipulating a videocassette with the key grip, drinking from a bottle with the palmar grasp, and writing with a pen using the tripod grip. Without the system, none of the five subjects could complete all three tasks; but, when assisted with MeCFES, all subjects completed all the tasks. The system proved simple and intuitively easy to use, and no training was needed for subjects to obtain immediate functionality. We will need further research to evaluate the usefulness of the system in activities of daily living.
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