Unjumbling Procedure in the Algorithmic Analysis of Biomechanical Torques Induced by Electrical Stimulation: Case Study of the Lower Limb

Abstract

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) uses electrical pulses to cause muscles to contract synthetically. When muscles contract due to stimulation, torques are produced around joints attached to the muscle. It is important to understand torques being produced, for reasons such as safety and indirect fatigue measurement. Given the translatability of FES devices into the home for therapy, having ways to non-invasively measure muscle responses to stimulation is essential for understanding and diagnosing the biomechanical response of the human body. Here, we present data from a stimulation experiment examining knee joint torques (KJTs) arising when quadriceps are subjected to electrical stimulation. A novel algorithm for computing and summarizing KJT data into a series of simplified parameters was developed using MATLAB software. From this, we draw some conclusions about the effect of changing the stimulation duty cycle on the resultant KJT. We believe this method will provide researchers with a tool to measure torque in a semi-automated, convenient fashion.