Electro-Stimulator for Limbs Strength Enhancement: An Innovative and Technological Review

The first studies on electro-stimulation in people as a treatment began in the 18th century when Mr. Luigi Galvani and Mr. Alessandro Volta demonstrated muscular excitation by electricity. In recent years, multiple studies have started to be carried out on the application of this method in the medical field, covering patients with spinal cord injuries or with muscular denervation and atrophy, which limit the activity of muscle groups and generate a reduction of fibers. Consequently, EMS, electrical muscle stimulation, which induces a contraction by electrical current, arises. Therefore, this article aims to document a systematic review of research on the application of the components used in developing electro-stimulators to improve upper limb strength. To achieve this, academic search engines and other platforms were used. It was possible to identify various types of electro-stimulations, from functional electrical stimulation to neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the whole body, for which it is essential to analyze the areas of focus for the design of our systems. The primary injuries examined range from stroke to quadriplegia. The research shows the diversity of approaches in the application of electrostimulation for muscle rehabilitation, highlighting the role of sensors in designing various systems.