Abstract
Electrical stimulation has been used increasingly in the past 20 years to provide function to persons who suffer from spinal cord injury. Functional electrical stimulation systems for the creation of upper extremity function in quadriplegics have been developed, as have systems enabling complete and incomplete paraplegics to ambulate. In addition, a computerized closed loop bicycle ergometer has been used clinically to allow active lower extremity exercise in persons with spinal cord injury. In this article, the physiological effects and methods of electrical stimulation are discussed, as well as the current status and prospects for clinical use of each type of system.
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