Functional Electric Stim

This high-tech equipment provides patterned electrical stimulation to the surface of muscles, which stimulates nerves and evokes muscle contractions and activity. Surface electrodes are placed on one or both sides of the patient’s body, this could be on their legs, torso or arms, depending on the focus of the treatment and the equipment being utilized for that session. The electrodes are then connected to the computerized brain of the machinery that controls the output of the electrical stimulation. The robotic walker, FES cycle, or Xcite functional stimulator then provides the appropriate amount of electrical stimulation to move the muscles to enable body weight supported walking, cycling, and other functional tasks such as transfers and bed mobility. It also measures the amount of effort the patient is exerting and automatically measures each patient’s progress.

FES enables the individual who may have lost voluntary control over their muscles due to injury or illness to cycle, walk, stand, balance, reach or other activities they are working on as part of their plan of care. Patients can even use some of the FES equipment without transferring from their wheelchairs. This exercise relaxes spasms, improves circulation, maintains or increases range of motion, and prevents muscle atrophy that often accompanies lack of use.

FES Cycling systems allow individuals with partial or complete paralysis of the legs or arms to pedal a stationary cycle or arm cycle respectively (using a motorized ergometer) with their own muscle power – despite their paralysis.

The ability to power the bike oneself using the electrical stim is much more beneficial than simply using a motorized bike to move the legs or arms. This results in effectively reversing many of the detrimental effects on an individual’s fitness level that has suffered a neurological injury or illness.

At TryAbility NeuroRehab, therapists prescribe cycling sessions to address compromised bone density, decreased muscle girth, poor cardiovascular endurance, and to manage spasticity. Our therapists use the smart Xcite NMEs software for postural re-education, resistance training, and static and dynamic balance exercises, to amplify clinical efficacy. The Xcite systems allows the patient to sequentially contract the muscles at the appropriate time during an activity to mimic normal task performance, and assists the therapist who can guide the patient to perform task specific training while minimizing compensation thereby enhancing CNS plasticity.

Neuroprosthetics such as the Bioness L300 Go, and the WalkAide are hallmarks of FES technology. At TryAbility, our therapists are trained in the use of both types of neuroprostheses, and work closely with the vendors to identify and trial the devices with appropriate patients.