ABSTRACT
Objective To explore a new method for assessing the walking efficiency of the paraplegic patients assisted by functional electrical stimulation (FES). Methods The measurement system based on a standard walker was developed. During FES assisted walking of the paraplegic, the real time of the upper limb support were obtained and transformed into a 3 D center of gravity (CG) motion map with a paraplegic upper body mechanical model to describe the CG motion locus. Then the FES efficiency indicated by walking balance condition was assessed objectively and quantitatively. Results In this design, the pilot study of a paraplegic patient undergoing walking training with FES showed that the force accuracy was better than 1.01%, nonlinearity was less than 0.8%, and crosstalk was less than 3.2%. Conclusion The results showed that this system may be used as 1) an evaluation index of FES assisted paraplegic walking efficiency, 2) a balance control indicator during FES assisted paraplegic walking training and 3) a feed back signal to choose an efficient FES pattern and sequence.