FES assisted standing in people with incomplete spinal cord injury: a single case design series

Study design: Single case cross-over design with multiple baselines. Objective: To compare two functional electrical stimulation (FES) training protocols to assist sit-to-stand in people with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Setting: The study was conducted in Sydney, Australia. Methods: Four subjects with incomplete SCI undertook nine sessions of FES supported cycling at either 100 or 35Hz stimulus frequency repeated. Ground reaction force and rate of generation of vertical ground reaction force during standing from sitting were measured before and after each training series. Results: Subjects improved their ability to generate greater support through the feet after training with 35Hz stimulus paradigm but increased the rate of force production after training with 100Hz stimulation. Conclusions: Different FES training paradigms appear to produce different responses; however the ability to stand up seems more responsive to training with 35Hz FES stimulation.