Functional Electrical Stimulator (FES)

The functional electrical stimulator (FES) is a medical device that uses electrical impulses to stimulate muscles and facilitate movement, especially in patients who are mobility-impaired due to neurological injury or disease. The goal of FES is to improve muscle function, preserve muscle mass, and enhance blood circulation.

What is FES used for?

• Restoring movement: Helps activate paralyzed or weakened muscles, enabling patients to perform movements.
• Preserving muscle mass: Electrical stimulation promotes muscle activity, helping to preserve muscle mass and prevent muscle atrophy.
• Improving blood circulation: Stimulating the muscles promotes blood flow, which is essential for maintaining tissue health.
• Reducing spasticity: Can help decrease muscle stiffness and spasms, which are common in neurological disorders.
• Pain relief: In some cases, FES can reduce pain by increasing endorphin production.
• Incontinence treatment: urinary incontinence (stress, urge, and mixed types) and fecal incontinence, restoring pelvic floor functions.
• Regaining muscle strength: after surgery or injury.
• Retraining injured nerves: after paralysis, surgery and traumatic injury, or stroke.

Types of FES:

1. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): Primarily used for pain relief, stimulating muscles via the nerves.
2. Rehabilitation Muscle Stimulators (EMS): These systems are specifically designed for rehabilitation, helping patients restore muscle function.
3. Implantable FES systems: These are surgically implanted into the body and used for long-term muscle stimulation, such as in patients with spinal cord injuries.

FES technology is becoming increasingly advanced and is successfully applied in a growing number of areas, including sports rehabilitation and the treatment of chronic conditions.