Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2016, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (8): 1327-1332.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.189199

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Rebuilding motor function of the spinal cord based on functional electrical stimulation

Xiao-yan Shen1, 2, *, Wei Du1, Wei Huang1, Yi Chen3   

  1. 1 Electronic Information School, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China 2 Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China 3 Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Online:2016-08-31 Published:2016-08-31
  • Contact: Xiao-yan Shen, Ph.D., xiaoyansho@ntu.edu.cn.
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81371663, 61534003; and the Top-notch Academic Programs Project of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China, No. PPZY2015B135.

Abstract: Rebuilding the damaged motor function caused by spinal cord injury is one of the most serious challenges in clinical neuroscience. The function of the neural pathway under the damaged sites can be rebuilt using functional electrical stimulation technology. In this study, the locations of motor function sites in the lumbosacral spinal cord were determined with functional electrical stimulation technology. A three-dimensional map of the lumbosacral spinal cord comprising the relationship between the motor function sites and the corresponding muscle was drawn. Based on the individual experimental parameters and normalized coordinates of the motor function sites, the motor function sites that control a certain muscle were calculated. Phasing pulse sequences were delivered to the determined motor function sites in the spinal cord and hip extension, hip ?exion, ankle plantar?exion, and ankle dorsi?exion movements were successfully achieved. The results show that the map of the spinal cord motor function sites was valid. This map can provide guidance for the selection of electrical stimulation sites during the rebuilding of motor function after spinal cord injury.

Key words: nerve regeneration, spinal cord injury, functional electrical stimulation, rebuilding motor function, movement control, spinal cord, lumbosacral spinal cord, motor function sites, hip extension movement, hip flexion movement, ankle plantarflexion, ankle dorsiflexion, neural regeneration