A method of treating shoulder dysfunction involves the use of a
percutaneous, intramuscular stimulation system. A plurality of
intramuscular stimulation electrodes are implanted directly into select
shoulder muscles of a patient who has suffered a disruption of the
central nervous system such as a stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal
cord injury or cerebral palsy. An external microprocessor based
multi-channel stimulation pulse train generator is used for generating
select electrical stimulation pulse train signals. A plurality of
insulated electrode leads percutaneously, electrically interconnect the
plurality of intramuscular stimulation electrodes to the external
stimulation pulse train generator, respectively. Stimulation pulse train
parameters for each of the stimulation pulse train output channels are
selected independently of the other channels. The shoulder is evaluated
for subluxation in more than one dimension. More than one muscle or
muscle group is simultaneously subjected to a pulse train dosage.
Preferably, the at least two dosages are delivered asynchronously to two
muscle groups comprising the supraspinatus in combination with the middle
deltoid, and the trapezious in combination with the posterior deltoid.