Recumbent stepping exercise device with stimulation and related methods

A method for assisting a human subject in performing a recumbent stepping exercise using their legs, hips, knees and feet with the assistance of stimulation, comprising:

• positioning the subject on a seat;
• placing the subject's feet on corresponding receivers constrained to move reciprocally along a path of travel during a stepping pattern between a first, extended position with the corresponding leg at least partially bent and the corresponding knee positioned away from the subject's upper torso and a second, retracted position with the corresponding leg more bent than in the first position and positioned closer to the subject's upper torso, such that the hip joint corresponding to each leg is being exercised during the stepping pattern;
• electrically stimulating at least one of the leg muscles of the subject while the receivers move alternately along the path of travel;
• and
• providing at least one stop at the forward end of the path of travel for retarding the movement of at least one of the receivers to simulate the corresponding foot making contact with the ground.

A method of performing a recumbent stepping exercise on a human subject with full or partial loss of leg muscle control, comprising:

• electrically stimulating at least one leg muscle at a predetermined level as the legs move alternately along a path of travel between a first position and a second, extended position during the stepping exercise;
• sensing a parameter of the exercise;
• adjusting the predetermined level of electrical stimulation to a revised level based on the sensed parameter;
• and
• electrically stimulating at least a portion of the leg muscles at the revised level.