![](bg6.png)
The possibility to monitor the torque at the right and
left crank represents an important step forward in the
application of FES cycling on stroke patients. It
would be possible to use the acquired torques to
monitor the unbalance of the movement on line. The
unbalance could be used as a biofeedback signal to
the patient. Thus, looking at a display where the
asymmetry is shown, he could correct the exercise
on line giving a voluntary contribution.
Alternatively, starting from this unbalance signal it
would be possible to develop a closed loop
controller aiming at the maximization of the
symmetry during the movement. The achieved
results also suggest that a simplified first version of
the controller could act only on the stimulation of
the hamstrings and quadriceps and not on the gluteus
maximus and tibialis anterior, which shown a quite
negligible effect on the right and left torque.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This work was supported by the Italian Institute of
Technology (IIT), and the Fondazione Cariplo in the
framework of the research program HINT@Lecco.
This project was realized thanks to the grant
INGENIO funded by the European Social Found,
the Welfare Ministry and by the Lombardia region.
Authors would like to acknowledge Mauro
Rossini (Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Center) for his
helpful discussion.
REFERENCES
Kralj, A., Acimović, R., Stanic, U., 1993. Enhancement of
hemiplegic patient rehabilitation by means of
functional electrical stimulation. Prosthetics and
Orthotics International, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 107-114.
Petrofsky, J.S., 2004. Electrical stimulation:
neurophysiological basis and application. Basic and
Applied Myology, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 205-213
Hunt, K., Stone, B., Negard, N., et al., 2004. “Control
strategies for integration of electric motor assist and
functional electrical stimulation in paraplegic cycling:
utility for exercise testing and mobile cycling. IEEE
Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation
Engineering., vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 88–101.
Lee, R.G., van Donkelaar, P., 1995. Mechanisms
underlying functional recovery following stroke. The
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, vol. 22,
pp. 257-263.
Sheffler, L.R., Chae J., 2007. Neuromuscular electrical
stimulation in neurorehabilitation. Muscle Nerve, vol.
35, pp. 562-590.
Ferrante, S., Pedrocchi, A., Ferrigno, G., et al., 2006. FES
cycling treatment on hemiplegic patients: preliminary
results. In IFESS 06, 11
th
Annual Conference of the
FES Society, pp. 77-79.
Ferrante, S., Saunders, B., Duffell, L., et al., 2005.
Quantitative evaluation of stimulation strategies for
FES cycling. In IFESS 05, 10
th
International FES
Society Conference, pp. 94-96.
Gföhler, M., Angeli, T., Eberharter, T., et al., 2001. Test
bed with force-measuring crank for static and dynamic
investigations on cycling by means of functional
electrical stimulation. IEEE Transactions on Neural
Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, vol. 9, no. 2,
pp. 169-180.
Comolli, L., Cantatore, A., Zappa, E., et al., 2005.
HINT@LECCO project: metrological characterization
of a cycle-ergometer. In SIAMOC 05, 6
th
Congress of
the Italian Society of Movement Analysis in Clinic.
Bocciolone M., Comolli L., Molteni F., 2008.
Metrological characterization of a cycle-ergometer. In
Biodevices 08, International Conference on
Biomedical Electronics and Devices.
Trumbower, R.D., Faghri, P.D., 2005. Kinematic analyses
of semireclined leg cycling in able-bodied and spinal
cord injured individuals. Spinal Cord, vol 43, no 9, pp.
543-549.
Szecsi, J., Krause, P., Krafczyk, S., Brandt, T., Straube,
A., 2007. Functional output improvement in FES
cycling by means of forced smooth pedaling. Medicine
and science in sports and exercise, vol 39, no. 5, pp.
764-80.
OPTIMIZATION OF A FES CYCLING NEUROPROSTHESIS ON STROKE PATIENTS BY MEANS OF THE LEFT
AND RIGHT CRANK MEASUREMENTS
211