Closed‐Loop Control of Functional Electrical Stimulation‐Assisted Arm‐Free Standing in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: A Feasibility Study

Objectives.  The purpose of the present study was to show that the design of a neuroprosthesis for unsupported (arm‐free) standing is feasible. We review findings suggesting that a closed‐loop controlled functional electrical stimulation (FES) system should be able to facilitate arm‐free quiet standing in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Particularly, this manuscript identifies: 1) a control strategy that accurately mimics the strategy healthy individuals apply to regulate the ankle joint position during quiet standing and 2) the degrees of freedom (DOF) of the redundant, closed‐chain dynamic system of bipedal stance that have to be regulated to facilitate stable standing.

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