FES in Young Children With Perinatal Stroke

The MyndMove FES System (MyndTec Inc., Mississauga, ON) is a fully programmable FES device with eight channels. This system allows motor practice of 17 different reaching and grasping protocols. The muscles stimulated may include the anterior, middle and posterior deltoid, biceps and triceps brachii, flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus, extensor digitorum, thenar eminence, lumbricals, and interossei. The sophistication of this system is unique. In contrast, many of the MyndMove stimulation protocols involve activation of small muscles that are used for fine motor control. The second FES device that will be used is the Odstock 2-channel Stimulator (FES Mobility Ltd., Vancouver, BC). While less sophisticated than the MyndMove system, it is smaller and more portable.

Conventional training involves repetitive practice of upper extremity movements with manual assistance provided by a therapist as needed.