Biomedical subjects

P Obreza

Publications and source records attributed to P Obreza.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1997

Improvement in step clearance via calf muscle stimulation.

The aim is to study the influence of electrically stimulated calf muscles on the effectiveness of the swinging leg movement. The study is carried out with a group of patients with incomplete spinal cord injuries both under stationary conditions and during crutch-assisted walking. Before stimulation is applied to the ankle plantar flexors, the knee extensors are inactivated. In each cycle, after ankle plantar flexor stimulation, peroneal stimulation is started, triggering the flexion reflex. From a biomechanical point of view, functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the ankle plantar flexors results in increased ground clearance of the lower extremity. Additionally, the FES-assisted lifting of the heel results in the elimination of extensor tone and thus shortens the swing time.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Effects of respiratory muscle training and electrical stimulation of abdominal muscles on respiratory capabilities in tetraplegic patients.

Thirteen tetraplegic patients were included in the study of the effects of respiratory muscle training and of electrical stimulation of the abdominal muscles on their respiratory capabilities. Each patient was subjected for three 1 month lasting periods of the study: for inspiratory muscle training, expiratory muscle training and for a period without training. The sequence of these three periods was random for each patient. Respiratory tests (RT) measuring forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were conducted before and following each monthly period. Measurements were taken under four sets of conditions: the patients' unassisted efforts, their efforts combined with pressure manually applied by a therapist to the upper part of their abdomen, and their efforts accompanied by electrical stimulation (ES) of the abdominal muscles during the early phase of expirium, once triggered by the therapist and once by the patients themselves. RT values were increasing following respiratory muscle training and inspiratory training apparently had a slightly greater effect than its expiratory counterpart. The increments of values of RT were statistically significant (P < 0.05) after the inspiratory muscle training. RT measurements were greater when the patient's voluntary effort was combined with ES of abdominal muscles than when it was not. This study concludes that respiratory muscle training is a potentially effective approach and that ES of the abdominal muscles has potentials to improve coughing in tetraplegic patients.

Abdominal Muscles↗

PubMed1997

Influence of electrically stimulated ankle plantar flexors on the swinging leg.

The influence of functional electrically stimulated ankle plantar flexors on the swinging lower extremity was studied in incomplete spinal cord injured persons. Stimulation sequences with different time and frequency parameters were delivered to ankle plantar flexors and knee extensors and to the peroneal nerve. The results of kinematic assessment showed that stimulated calf muscles provide noticeable forward and upward propulsion to the swinging leg.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Wireless control of functional electrical stimulation systems.

With the assistance of crutches and functional electrical stimulation (FES), we are able to restore standing and simple gait in some spinal cord injured (SCI) patients. In present rehabilitative systems, the patient divides the gait cycle into stance and swing phases via pushbuttons mounted on the handles of the crutches, which are hardwired to the functional electrical stimulator. The surface-mount technology based telemetry system, which makes use of the radiofrequency medium at 40 MHz, was developed to provide wireless control of the FES system. Signals from crutch pushbuttons were coded and transferred from the transmitter to the receiver. The receiver was firmly attached to the patient's waist and was connected to the stimulator.

Crutches↗

PubMed1985

Functional electrical stimulation as an orthotic means for the rehabilitation of paraplegic patients.

In rehabilitating paraplegic patients the restoration of locomotion is often planned to enable the disabled person to use the wheelchair as little as possible or eventually even to abandon it. This objective is more easily obtained in those with incomplete spinal lesions. Applied with the view of restoring locomotion are various types of orthoses, but in the present paper the authors deal with functional electrical stimulation (hereinafter FES) as a means of restoring locomotion, demonstrating the advantages of FES over the use of classical orthoses. The paper offers an outline of the methodology of FES in spinal neural lesions, discusses the criteria of patient selection, giving indications and contraindications. The authors conclude by stating their belief that this treatment represents a new way of rehabilitating spinal paralysed patients which will sooner or later become part of the routine rehabilitation of paraplegic patients.

Electric Stimulation Therapy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Paraplegics standing up using multichannel FES and arm support.

The suitability of multichannel functional electrical stimulation (FES) during the standing-up manoeuvre for therapeutic home use was investigated. Two spinal cord-injured subjects (SCI) participated in the study. Ankle plantar flexors, knee extensors and hip extensors were stimulated. The amplitude of the stimulation pulses depended on the current phase of raising. The sit-to-stand process was divided into three phases by detecting characteristic events in the vertical handle reaction force. It was found that the multichannel FES did not contribute to the decrease of the arm support force when compared with stimulation of knee extensors only. However, stimulation of the hip extensors could speed up the raising process. Increased repeatability and faster standing up were observed when the stimulation began before the start of raising.

Arm↗