ADJUSTMENT OF FUNCTIONAL ELECTRICAL STIMULATION (FES) ACCORDING TO KNEE FLEXION ANGLE

Abstract

To clarify the different results of our simulation and FES-cycling tests, measurements on a knee dynamometer were made. The m. quadriceps of 16 healthy test persons was activated both by FES and voluntary contraction. Stimulated with the same level of intensity in a knee flexion angle range from 5° to 105°, the diagrams showed a very unusual course. The knee torque shows its maximum at the knee flexion angle of approx. 30°. Additional isometric measurements using stimulation intensity on constant on-verge-to pain levels for different knee angles were made. The measured courses of the resulting knee torque as a function of the knee angle are much closer to the results of physiologically activated muscle. These measurements show that for optimum power release, the stimulation intensity must be regulated depending on the knee flexion angle.