Surface‐distributed low‐frequency asynchronous stimulation delays fatigue of stimulated muscles |
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| Authors: | Lana Z. Popović Maneski Nebojša M. Malešević MSc Andrej M. Savić PhD Thierry Keller Dejan B. Popović |
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| Affiliation: | 1. State University of Novi Pazar, , Novi Pazar, Serbia;2. Tecnalia Serbia, Ltd., , Belgrade, 11000 Serbia;3. School of Electrical Engineering, University of Belgrade, , Belgrade, Serbia;4. Tecnalia Research & Innovation, , San Sebastian, Spain;5. Department of Health Science and Technology, Center for Sensory‐Motor Interaction (SMI) Aalborg University, , Aalborg, Denmark |
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| Abstract: | ![]()
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. Muscle Nerve 48 : 930–937, 2013 |
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| Keywords: | functional electrical stimulation grasp multipad electrodes muscle fatigue upper extremities |
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