Restoration of shoulder movement in quadriplegic and hemiplegic patients by functional electrical stimulation using percutaneous multiple electrodes

The purpose of this study is to restore the motion of the paralyzed shoulde r caused by upper motor neuron disorders using functional electrical stimul ation (FES). Percutaneous wire electrodes were implanted into twelve muscle s of the shoulder in six patients with stroke or cervical spinal cord injur y. The motion of the paralyzed shoulder was controlled by a portable BES co mputer system, with the three standard stimulation patterns for restoring m otion of 90 degrees flexion to 90 degrees horizontal abduction, 90 degrees flexion to 20 degrees horizontal adduction, and 90 degrees abduction to 90 degrees horizontal adduction. Shoulder movements were repeatedly controlled according to the created stimulation patterns in five of the patients. The two dimensional motion analyzer also confirmed shoulder control over a sat isfactorily broad range of excursion. One hemiplegic patient, who was a sig nboard painter, had his paretic left upper extremity improved by FES, and h e drew a large picture on a board with his normal right hand and, with his affected left arm against the wall, to support his trunk. This may be a wor ld first case of producing shoulder motion through FES.