This paper discusses the use of electrical stimulation in upper limb sensorial and motor rehabilitation. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) was used aiming to restore motor hand function by means of muscle activation sequences to perform daily living activities such as drinking, eating, writing and typewriting. Custom made gloves instrumented with force transducers were used aiming quantitative evaluation of the artificially generated movement. This system was used as a sensorial feedback supplier for an artificial proprioception system. Encoded tactile sensation relating to artificially generated movements was provided by electron-tactile stimulation. The results showed that the sensorial-motor integration attained yielded both functional movement restoration and the recognition of artificial grasp force patterns, in order to allow the neuroprosthetic system to become closer to the biologic system.
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation; Electrotactile Stimulation; Movement Restoration; Grasp; Proprioception; Tetraplegia
