Restoring Movement in People with Paralysis

This project aims to develop efficient methods for personalising assistive technology to restore arm function in people with high-level spinal cord injury. We will use a combination of electrical stimulation to elicit forces in muscles no longer under voluntary control, and mobile arm supports to compensate for insufficient muscle force where necessary. We will use computational models specific to an individual's functional limitations to produce patient-specific interventions. The project will be in three phases: building a model to predict the effects of electrical stimulation on a paralysed arm with arm support, development of methodologies using this model to optimise the arm support and stimulation system, and testing of stimulation controllers designed using this approach. The project brings together experts in biomechanics and musculoskeletal modelling, spinal cord injury rehabilitation and assistive technologies.

Conferences:

• Seyres M., Blana D., Postans N., O’Connor R.J., Pickard S., Chadwick E.K. Personalised approach to restoration of arm function in people with tetraplegia: electrostimulation assistance via optimal control predictions, BioMedEng Conference, London, September 2022
• Seyres M., Blana D., Postans N., O’Connor R.J., Pickard S., Chadwick E.K. Personalised approach to restoration of arm function in people with tetraplegia: identifying muscle weakness, European Society of Biomechanics Conference, Porto, Portugal, June 2022

Invited Talks:

Chadwick E.K., Personalised approach using electrostimulation assistance via optimal control predictions, as part of the workshop "The state of the art in restoration of upper limb function for people with tetraplegia", 62^nd International Spinal Cord Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Edinburgh, October 2023