MAINTENANCE, TRAINING AND FUNCTIONAL USE OF DENERVATED MUSCLES

In the case of cerebral paralysis, electrical stimulation can not only maintain the muscles, but may also enable their functional use. In flaccid paralyses, however, the conventional therapy using exponential currents produces rather unsatisfactory results. Applying bi-directional currents, produced tetanic contractions. At present, 20 children suffering from different diseases, such as spina bifida, Erb''s palsy or a tumor of the cord, perform a daily domiciliary treatment with especially constructed home stimulators. Distinct improvements of blood circulation, phosphoric metabolism and condition of the affected extremities were noted. First investigations with computer-controlled, multi-channel devices show that by means of these devices the efficiency of training can be improved, the daily time for treatment can be shortened and the disabled patient can perform the training almost autonomously. The existing experience on simple locomotion chains and the achieved strengthening of the muscles will gradually enable a functional electrical stimulation of flaccid, denerved muscles and thus extend the radius of action for the disabled patient, for example by gripping, standing upright or walking.