A dynamic model of the hand with application in functional neuromuscular stimulation

• Published in: Annals of biomedical engineering Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 440 - 451
• Main Authors: Esteki, Ali, Mansour, Joseph M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer 01.05.1997; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Algorithms; Biological and medical sciences; Computer Simulation; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Hand - physiology; Hand Strength - physiology; Humans; Medical sciences; Models, Anatomic; Models, Theoretical; Movement - physiology; Muscles; Nervous system involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous; Neurology; Quadriplegia - physiopathology; Quadriplegia - rehabilitation; Spinal cord injuries; Surgery; Human; Positioning; Tetraplegia; Nervous system diseases; Motor system disorder; Stimulation; Functional analysis; Potential function; Neuromuscular transmission; Hand; Three dimensional model; Motion study; Grasp reflex; Upper limb; Neurological disorder; Dynamic model
• ISSN: 0090-6964; 1573-9686
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02684185

Potential hand function in people with tetraplegia was evaluated using a three-dimensional dynamic mathematical model. The model was used to evaluate hand positioning, grasp force, and the outcome of surgeries such as tendon transfers and joint fusion, in situations typical of those encountered when using functional neuromuscular stimulation to restore function in people with tetraplegia. In the model, the hand is treated as a jointed multibody system. Each joint is subjected to muscle moments, passive joint moment, and moments due to grasp forces. Model simulations showed that function was highly dependent on both muscle strength and joint passive moments. The potential for tendon transfers, such as the Zancolli-lasso and intrinsicplasty, plasty, to improve hand function was demonstrated, but their value is subject-dependent. It was also shown that activation of multiple thumb muscles (adductor pollicis, abductor pollicis brevis, and flexor pollicis longus) without interphalangeal joint fusion can provide convenient lateral pinch posture with approximately 70% more grip force than a currently used method, which includes joint fusion but requires only one muscle. Finally, a grasp protocol was introduced and shown successful in palmar grasp and hold of movable cylindrical objects using only extrinsic muscles, provided the fingers could be extended sufficiently to enclose the object.