Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system for treating diminished muscle function that includes an electrical member that delivers electrical energy to a portion of a mammalian body having a dysfunctional muscle; a joint motion assembly that couples to the body and provides joint motion to a joint to which the dysfunctional muscle ordinarily provides motion; and a control unit that controls a timing of electrical energy delivery by the member and an amount of electrical energy delivered by the member; the timing of electrical energy delivery is controlled to occur while the joint is positioned near an inflection point between the opposing joint movements in the cycle, and while motion is being provided to the joint by the joint motion assembly. The amount of electrical energy delivered is effective to result in a depolarization of at least one of the dysfunctional muscle and a nerve that innervates the dysfunctional muscle.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a system for treating diminished muscle function that includes an electrical member that delivers electrical energy to a portion of a mammalian body having a dysfunctional muscle; a joint motion assembly that couples to the body and provides joint motion to a joint to which the dysfunctional muscle ordinarily provides motion; and a control unit that controls a timing of electrical energy delivery by the member and an amount of electrical energy delivered by the member; the timing of electrical energy delivery is controlled to occur while the joint is positioned near an inflection point between the opposing joint movements in the cycle, and while motion is being provided to the joint by the joint motion assembly. The amount of electrical energy delivered is effective to result in a depolarization of at least one of the dysfunctional muscle and a nerve that innervates the dysfunctional muscle.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for treating diminished muscle function. Some systems include an electrical member that delivers electrical energy to a hand region of a body that comprises a dysfunctional muscle; a joint motion assembly that couples to the body and provides, to a joint adjacent the dysfunctional muscle, a motion made up of a cycle of opposing joint movements; and a control unit that provides an operator of the system with control of a timing of electrical energy delivery and an amount of electrical energy delivered. Some systems time the electrical energy delivery to occur when the moving joint is near an inflection point and deliver electrical energy delivered in amounts effective to result in a depolarization of the dysfunctional muscle, a nerve in proximity of the joint, and/or a muscle of substantially normal function in proximity of the joint.