A phenomenological model that predicts forces generated when electrical stimulation is superimposed on submaximal volitional contractions

Rámu Perumal, Anthony S. Wexler, Trisha M. Kesar, Angela Jancosko, Yocheved Laufer, Stuart A. Binder-Macleod

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Superimposition of electrical stimulation during voluntary contractions is used to produce functional movements in individuals with central nervous system impairment, to evaluate the ability to activate a muscle, to characterize the nature of fatigue, and to improve muscle strength during postsurgical rehabilitation. Currently, the manner in which voluntary contractions and electrically elicited forces summate is not well understood. The objective of the present study is to develop a model that predicts the forces obtained when electrical stimulation is superimposed on a volitional contraction. Quadriceps femoris muscles of 12 able-bodied subjects were tested. Our results showed that the total force produced when electrical stimulation was superimposed during a volitional contraction could be modeled by the equation T = V + S[(MaxForce - VJ/MaxForce]N, where T is the total force produced, V is the force in response to volitional contraction alone, S is the force response to the electrical stimulation alone, MaxForce is the maximum force-generating ability of the muscle, and N is a parameter that we posit depends on the differences in the motor unit recruitment order and firing rates between volitional and electrically elicited contractions. In addition, our results showed that the model predicted accurately (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥ 0.97) the total force in response to a wide range of stimulation intensities and frequencies superimposed on a wide range of volitional contraction levels. Thus the model will be helpful to clinicians and scientists to predict the amount of stimulation needed to produce the targeted, force levels in individuals with partial paralysis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1595-1604
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Applied Physiology
Volume108
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2010

Keywords

  • Force summation
  • Functional electrical stimulation
  • Rate coding
  • Recruitment order

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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