Characterizing the Delayed Muscle Response to Electrical Stimulation

This study will use non-invasive approaches (surface electrodes, encoders, torque meters, motors) to study muscle delay and how muscle fatigues for both individuals possessing movement disorders and healthy individuals. Individuals with movement disorders are often susceptible to partial or total paralysis. This paralysis often leads to an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. By implementing the intelligent closed-loop control of FES-cycling, FES-therapy can be made more effective, combating the effects of sedentary lifestyles. Using data obtained from non-invasive sensors, the study team will apply analytical techniques to quantify FES muscle delay and how well individuals can track a desired cadence as the muscle fatigues. A challenge associated with FES-induced cycling is that there exists a delay between the time when FES is applied and the time when the muscle contracts. There is likewise a delay between the time FES is removed and the time the muscle ceases to contract. Previous studies have measured this delay and determined that it varies with fatigue. A goal of this project is to measure this delay on an FES-cycle and to determine how this delay varies as a result of FES-induced cycling. Another goal is to determine what effect the crank angle has on the delay as well as on the muscle control effectiveness. This study will provide insight into how engineering can be combined with healthcare and therapy to better both fields and bridge the gap between engineering and medicine.