FIGURE 1. Non-invasive system for measuring strength of muscles by force assessment in a sleeping bear.

Components consist of a stabilizing metal brace that holds the bear's leg in a secure horizontal position; a foot plate with force transducer to detect the evoked torque produced by the electrically stimulated tibialis anterior; a hardware device for nerve stimulation, signal amplification and signal conditioning, plus a computer for stimulus delivery, equipped with data-acquisition software for recording, analysing and displaying all signals simultaneously, together with a battery power-source.