Translational electrical stimulation for use in neurorehabilitation – applied clinical evidence.
Presenter(s): Ines Bersch (MSc, PhD) [1], Prof. DDr. Winfried Mayr [2] & Thomas Schick (MSc) [3]
[1] Head of International FES Centre® Swiss Paraplegic Centre Nottwil; [2] Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Vienna, Austria; [3] Physiotherapist, Teacher and Scientist MED-EL , Innsbruck, Austria.
Workshop description: Electrical stimulation, including functional electrical stimulation (FES), neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), long pulse stimulation and transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) applied in neurorehabilitation might improve efficiency and efficacy of the treatment in various diseases. A major focus lies on neuromodulation to improve motor and sensory recovery by accessing residual function. One requirement amongst others is the inclusion of principles of motor learning as well as the knowledge of the correct use of adapted stimulation parameters depending on the specific impairment. The workshop will present therapeutic interventions for the treatment in upper and lower motor neuron lesions. Accordingly, the use of adequate stimulation parameters for the treatment of innervated, partial denervated and denervated muscles as well as task-orientated therapy approaches will be demonstrated, discussed, and applied in practice during the workshop.
Learning objectives:
1) Learning the impact of the stimulation parameters pulse width, frequency and amplitude and their interaction with the central and peripheral nervous system
2) Learning about different modalities of electrical stimulation on the central and peripheral nervous system and how neuromodulative processes and motor learning can be supported.
3) Practical application of multi-channel and multiphase stimulation on the upper extremity as well as long pulse stimulation in function to enhance motor recovery.
4) Practical demonstration including participants experience in the application of tSCS.