This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Askari S, Chao T, de Leon RD, Won DS. The effect of timing electrical stimulation to robotic-assisted stepping on neuromuscular activity and associated kinematics. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2013;50(6):875–92.http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2012.06.0111

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD.2012.06.0111JSP

The effect of timing electrical stimulation to robotic-assisted stepping

on neuromuscular activity and associated kinematics

Sina Askari, MS; TeKang Chao; Ray D. de Leon, PhD; Deborah S. Won, PhD

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Askari S, Chao T, de Leon RD, Won DS. The effect of timing electrical stimulation to robotic-assisted stepping on neuromuscular activity and associated kinematics. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2013;50(6):875–92.http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2012.06.0111

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD.2012.06.0111JSP

• Aim– Determine how timing neuromuscular functional

electrical stimulation (FES) to limb movements during stepping might alter neuromuscular control differently than patterned stimulation alone.

• Relevance– FES has been used to strengthen muscles weakened

by neurological damage and artificially replace muscle activation missing because of spinal cord injury (SCI).

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Askari S, Chao T, de Leon RD, Won DS. The effect of timing electrical stimulation to robotic-assisted stepping on neuromuscular activity and associated kinematics. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2013;50(6):875–92.http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2012.06.0111

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD.2012.06.0111JSP

Method• Developed prototype FES system for rodent SCI model

that timed FES to robotic treadmill training (RTT) for 2 rat groups:– FES+RTT

• FES+RTT and tibialis anterior (TA) stimulation timed according to robot-controlled hind-limb position.

– Randomly timed stimulation (RS)• Similarly patterned stimulation, randomly timed with respect to hind-

limb movements, while in cages.

• Tested treadmill stepping ability and compared hind-limb movement and TA electromyography (EMG) activity after 4 wk.

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Askari S, Chao T, de Leon RD, Won DS. The effect of timing electrical stimulation to robotic-assisted stepping on neuromuscular activity and associated kinematics. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2013;50(6):875–92.http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2012.06.0111

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD.2012.06.0111JSP

Results

• FES+RTT group stepped faster and exhibited TA EMG profiles that better matched applied stimulation profile during training than RS group.

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Askari S, Chao T, de Leon RD, Won DS. The effect of timing electrical stimulation to robotic-assisted stepping on neuromuscular activity and associated kinematics. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2013;50(6):875–92.http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2012.06.0111

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD.2012.06.0111JSP

Conclusion

• Locomotor training consisting of FES timed to hind-limb movement improved activation of hind-limb muscle more so than RS alone.