Pages 101-102
We recently developed a hybrid exercise system in which electrically-stimulated antagonist muscles are used to resist volitional contractions of the opposing agonists. This system has already been used successfully to strengthen the upper extremities of healthy men. (Yanagi et al, 2003) Reciprocal limb movements are central to walking and many activities of daily living. Despite their importance, training is usually relatively primitive and typically involves multiple repetitions of the desired activity. This approach permits training of the desired pattern of movements but does not lend itself to increasing the subject's strength much above that needed for the task. Our goal was to combine hybrid exercise and ergometer training and study its potential in strengthening muscle in a functional pattern that matches that of daily life.
