|
PROJECTS Preventing Pressure Ulcers using Functional Electrical Stimulation Pressure ulcers are among the most common secondary complications following Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and any other disease that results in severe immobility. Pressure ulcers can lead to infection, rehospitalization, and in many cases death. At present, the best options used for preventing pressure ulcers are specialized cushions to reduce interface pressures combined with pressure relief from the patient performing ‘push-ups’, ‘leaning forward’ or reclining the chair. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation is a technology by which paralyzed muscles can be activated by passing small electrical current through the nervous tissue. In this project, we are developing stimulation strategies that produce clinically significant reductions in sitting pressure using safe, non-invasive methods. This project was featured on Houston's CH 11 News Link to article on Ch 11 News website and accompanying video clip (opens in a new window) Rehabilitation of Locomotion in Spinal Cord Injury and Stroke Recent advances in our knowledge of how the nervous system learns and adapts have opened the door to a host of new rehabilitation techniques for neuromuscular disorders such as stroke and spinal cord injury. Among these new techniques is integrated locomotor training with the aid of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES). Paretic muscles are stimulated by external electrical signals to produce the complex, multi-segmental movements of walking. In this project, we are carefully analyzing the coordinated neuromuscular function of able-bodied people to develop intelligent, automatic control patterns for use in locomotor training.
|