Development of a novel gait rehabilitation system based on FES and treadmill-walk for convalescent hémiplégie stroke survivors

Recently, a large amount of stroke survivors are suffering from motor impairment. However, existed therapy interventions have limited effects to restore normal motor function. Thus, we proposed a novel control strategy for gait rehabilitation of hemiplegic patients. The whole system consists of a Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) device and Treadmill-Walk system. FES contributes to improve the quality of the gait based on real-time adjustment of gait pattern. During gait, the electrical stimuli from separate output channels of an FES device are launched to stimulate two lower extremity muscles (Tibialis Anterior (TA) and Hamstrings). Stimulus launching procedure is based on identifying subject's gait state (stance and swing phases). According to the current variation of treadmill motor, gait phase and muscle activation of lower limbs can be determined during walking on Treadmill-Walk. Three able-bodied subjects simulated hemiplegic patients in the experiment. The results indicated that the proposed method is a safe, feasible and promising intervention.