Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS disease] is a slowly progressing condition caused by the gradual destruction of nerve cells (motor neurons) that lead to voluntary muscles. The disease starts in the muscles of the limbs farthest from the trunk and gradually spreads toward the center. Muscle strength decreases, muscles begin to atrophy (waste away), and eventually paralysis develops. This results in loss of motor functions, urinary and fecal continence, as well as increasing muscle stiffness (spasticity), contractures (shortening of tendons), and the pain caused by these conditions. The quality of life is determined by the progression of muscle weakness, and ultimately respiratory muscle paralysis leads to death.
Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) in the Home Treatment of ALS Disease
Most Hungarian medical information websites do not even mention functional electrical stimulation (FES) as a method to reduce symptoms and slow deterioration. While physiotherapy is occasionally mentioned as an option, none elaborate beyond a single sentence. However, FES could be successfully applied... if both doctors and patients were better informed about it.
Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is an electrotherapy method. It is essentially muscle stimulation aimed at restoring a specific function or ability. In the case of ALS, it focuses on maintaining function for as long as possible.
However, stimulation is more complex than simply taking a pill. There is no universally applicable protocol; treatments vary because symptom order, intensity, and muscle weakness progression differ from patient to patient. A treatment plan must be tailored according to your symptoms.
It is fully evidenced that muscle stimulation helps improve the quality of life for ALS patients, delays the spread of muscle weakness, relieves stiffness, reduces pain, and supports the maintenance of urinary and fecal continence.
