Functional Electrical Stimulator (FES)

The Functional Electrical Stimulator (FES) is a medical device that uses electrical impulses to stimulate muscles and facilitate movements, especially for patients who have limited mobility due to neurological injury or disease. The goal of FES is to improve muscle function, maintain muscle mass, and enhance blood circulation.

What is FES used for?

• Movement restoration: Helps activate paralyzed or weakened muscles, enabling patients to perform movements.
• Muscle mass preservation: Electrical stimulation promotes muscle activity, helping to maintain muscle mass and prevent muscle atrophy.
• Improved blood circulation: Muscle stimulation promotes blood flow, which is important for the health of tissues.
• Spasticity reduction: May help reduce muscle stiffness and spasms common in patients with neurological disorders.
• Pain relief: In some cases, FES can reduce pain by increasing endorphin production.
• Incontinence treatment: for urinary incontinence (stress, urge, and mixed types) and also for fecal incontinence, restoring pelvic floor function.
• Muscle strength recovery: after surgery or injury
• Retraining damaged nerves: after paralysis, surgery, injury, or stroke

Types of FES:

1. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): Mainly used for pain relief, stimulating muscles through nerves.
2. Rehabilitation Muscle Stimulators (EMS): Systems specifically designed for rehabilitation to help patients restore muscle function.
3. Implantable FES Systems: Surgically implanted devices used for long-term muscle stimulation, for example in patients with spinal cord injuries.

FES technology is becoming increasingly advanced and is successfully applied in various fields, including sports rehabilitation and managing chronic illnesses.