Optimal Multifield Functional Electrical Stimulation Parameters for the “Turn on the Light” Task and Related Upper Limb Kinematics Repeatability in Poststroke Subjects

Objective: To characterize the optimal functional electrical stimulation (FES) parameters that assist the turn on the light task (TOTL) on poststroke participants and to analyze the related upper limb (UL) kinematics repeatability. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Human movement research center. Participants: Poststroke individuals (N=11) with history of a single unilateral stroke that resulted in a motor control dysfunction of the contralesional UL. Interventions: FES based on surface multifield technology applied to the contralesional wrist and finger extensors during the TOTL. Main Outcome Measures: FES outcome metrics (virtual electrodes, stimulation duration, intensity) and kinematic metrics (end-point kinematics [absolute and relative duration, mean and peak velocities, relative instant of peak velocity, index of curvature, number of movement units] and joint kinematics [shoulder, elbow, wrist end position and range of movement]). Outcome measures were assessed 2 times with a 72-hour maximum time interval. Conclusion: It was possible to establish reliable FES parameters that assisted the TOTL on poststroke participants. These stimulation parameters led to high to very high repeatability in terms of UL kinematics for most of the cases.