Reach and Palmar Grasp in Tetraplegics With Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation: Assessment and Training.

International Standards for Neurological and Functional Classification of Spinal Cord Injuries of American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA); Functional Independence Measure (FIM); The following kinematic variables of arm were studied: shoulder, elbow and wrist angles; percentage of time to peak velocity; movement time; peak velocity and movement smoothness (number of velocity peaks and index of curvature); Capabilities of Upper Extremity instrument (CUE); Spinal cord independence measure (SCIM II); electromyography (Clavicular portion of pectoralis major, long head of biceps brachii, anterior and posterior deltoid, triceps and wrist extensors).

The strengthening sessions consisted of 20 minutes of electrical stimulation on triceps, extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor digitorum communis, lumbricalis, flexor digitorum superficialis and opponens pollicis muscles. The functional training sessions was performed through movements the reach and palmar grasp with NMES of the several cylindrical and conical objects of different weights (30 minutes sessions).