Closed-loop Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) – cycling rehabilitation with phase control Fuzzy Logic for fatigue reduction control strategies for stroke patients

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) cycling, or FES-Cycling, holds great therapeutic potential for individuals with paralysis, such as those with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury, or stroke, aiming to restore mobility. However, the nonlinear nature of the musculoskeletal system poses a significant challenge in controlling FES-Cycling. To address this, an integrated closed-loop phase angle fuzzy-based system was developed. This system offers real-time control by adjusting stimulation intensity (pulse width) within the range of 50 to 200μs while maintaining a constant frequency of 35Hz, thereby ensuring precise pedaling trajectory and cadence patterns. An experimental study involved three healthy individuals (Cases A, B, and C) and one individual with hemiplegia stroke (Case D). Results showed that the proposed system consistently reduced average angle trajectory errors for Cases A, B, and C, with values of 2.6945, 3.2958, and 2.9922 degrees, respectively. Case D, affected by hemiplegia stroke, faced greater challenges and exhibited a higher error of 3.4562 degrees. Fatigue resistance, evaluated through fatigue indices, showed promising results for Cases A, B, and C with values of 0.10778, 0.06866, and 0.04603, respectively. However, Case D experienced higher fatigue (0.2304) due to the unique challenges of hemiplegia stroke. These findings highlight the effectiveness of the proposed control system in optimizing FES-Cycling, particularly for healthy individuals. For individuals with paralysis, like Case D, further research is needed to adapt the system to their specific conditions and cycling patterns. This system holds the potential for enhancing FES-Cycling as a therapeutic strategy and warrants additional investigation and customization for different patient populations.