Patent ID: 8060210

Claim:
A method for improving mobility of an affected articular joint, wherein the joint is associated with at least a first muscle group and at least a second muscle group each having an antagonistic relationship for effecting mobility of the joint through a range of motion when recruited by natural neural impulses, the method comprising: positioning at least two first electrodes proximate to the at least first muscle group; positioning at least two second electrodes proximate to the at least second muscle group; and applying motor-level electrical stimulation to the at least first and second muscle groups via the at least two first and second electrodes in a multiphasic pattern corresponding to a sequence of electromyographic outputs, which includes beginning a first phase of applying motor-level electrical stimulation to the at least first muscle group and ending the first phase of applying; beginning a second phase of applying motor-level electrical stimulation to the at least second muscle group before ending the first phase of applying and ending the second phase of applying after ending the first phase of applying; beginning a third phase of applying motor-level electrical stimulation to the at least first muscle group before ending the second phase of applying and stopping the third phase of applying; and repeating the first phase of applying, the second phase of applying, and the third phase of applying.