Intramuscular Stimulation of Muscle Afferents Attains Prolonged Tremor Reduction in Essential Tremor Patients

This study proposes and clinically tests intramuscular electrical stimulation below motor threshold to achieve prolonged reduction of wrist flexion/extension tremor in Essential Tremor (ET) patients. The developed system consisted an thin-film electrode structure that included both electromyography (EMG) recording electrodes, a control algorithm for the timing based on EMG (closed-loop stimulation). Data were recorded from nine ET patients with recruited Gregorio Marañón Hospital (Madrid, Spain). Patients participated two experimental sessions comprising: 1) sensory flexors/extensors via multichannel electrodes; 2) surface nerves innervating same target muscles. For each session, four these underwent random 60-s trials strategies muscle: selective adaptive timely (SATS) - antagonist muscle; continuous (CON) Two SATS alone while other three CON session. Kinematics wrist, elbow, shoulder, together clinical scales, used assess before, right after, 24 h after Intramuscular achieved, average, 32% acute (during stimulation) trial, augmented tremorgenic activity. Furthermore, was significantly higher using than stimulation. Prolonged amplitude (24 experiment) observed These results showed h) minimally invasive neurostimulation technology primary afferents strategy might open possibility alternative therapeutic approach