On the Use of Adaptive Control in Stimulation-Assisted Neuromotor Therapy

Neuromuscular stimulation may provide an efficient means to enhance the effectiveness of neuromotor therapy. In previous work, we developed an adaptive control system (PG/PS control system) that may be particularly useful in neuromotor retraining paradigms that seek to supplement volitional activity with electrical stimulation to generate cyclic movements. This system has previously demonstrated very good performance in controlling single-joint movements at a given movement period. In this work, we further characterized the capabilities of this system with a focus on issues that are likely to arise in neuromotor retraining paradigms: varying movement periods, intermittent rest periods, and multi-joint movements. Preliminary results suggest that the PG/PS system can address each of these issues and therefore may be well-suited for use in neuromotor therapy.