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Functional Electrical Stimulation Therapy: Individualized Neuroprosthesis for Grasping and Reaching

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Abstract

Although conventional occupational therapy was ineffective, the client was able to grasp a soda can after four months of FES therapy.

Stroke and spinal cord injury clients experience permanent disability resulting in total or partial upper limb paralysis. The paralysis can be either unilateral (typical for stroke clients) or bilateral (typical for cervical spinal cord injury clients). Approximately 85% of people living with stroke have severe upper limb paralysis, while 45% of people living with tetraplegia have persisting upper limb motor deficits more than one year after onset. These persisting functional inabilities affect their independence in activities of daily living, thereby increasing their need for attendant care services. This chapter provides a discussion of available therapies, with a particular focus on functional electrical stimulation therapy (FES).

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge Karen Lepper for her assistance in preparing this chapter. The authors receive support from the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, which receives funding under the provincial rehabilitation research program from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in Ontario. We acknowledge funding from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Ontario Innovative Trust, Physicians Services Incorporated, and the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation.

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Ingrid Söderback

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Popovic, M.R., Craven, B.C. (2009). Functional Electrical Stimulation Therapy: Individualized Neuroprosthesis for Grasping and Reaching. In: Söderback, I. (eds) International Handbook of Occupational Therapy Interventions. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-75424-6_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-75424-6_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-75423-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-75424-6

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