Functional Electrical Stimulation is Physiotherapy

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What do I mean by this? Functional Electrical Stimulation talks to the nerve in your leg specifically when you use a foot drop wireless leg system, which in turn talks to your brain and shin muscles to contract and lift your foot up and out when walking. This means that with every step you take, these muscles are being stimulated and are contracting. Therefore, over time it is also strengthening these muscles. This is why, walking with an FES wireless system is such great physiotherapy for the body following a neurological impairment.

But remember that FES is only the start... When we start to work with the FES system to improve your walking pattern, it is a very important part of the rehabilitation programme and a specialised exercise regime is needed to focus on strengthening the muscles that are weaker. So, the one does not replace the other if you are wanting to continue to improve on how you walk and if you want to get back as close to your pre-injury mobility as possible. 

FES works on neuroplasticity as well 

This is also working on neuroplasticity in the brain because it is talking to your nerves and your brain. The wonderful thing about walking is that with every step the system is triggering the nerve to tell the brain and muscle to contract. Following a neurological impairment one of the biggest issues clients face is the worry of Am I doing to trip and fall, or oh my leg is tired but there is no bench to sit on and I’m only half way to where I am meant to go or they are having to concentrate fully on walking and cannot engage in a conversation because walking is not easy when it is no longer an automatic activity?

In neurophysio, we work with a wide range of different strengthening activities across different environments. Functional electrical stimulation offers the body the much-needed additional support that is not there. This support makes walking less effortful, it makes it easier to walk a bit further before needing to rest with a lot less effort, it gives clients the confidence and knowing that “I’ve got this. I don’t have to worry about tripping and falling anymore when I wear my FES system” and it is usually when clients don’t wear the system that they notice the amount of the support the FES systems really offer their bodies which is invaluable. It’s the difference between being able to walk to and from the school safely to collect the kids, being able to keep up with the family on holiday trips or outings and so much more. 

Walking wireless FES systems gives the body continuous feedback as you use it. 

The other wonderful thing about FES is that when you are using it, it will give you feedback and stimulated your shin if you are not standing on your leg. It is my experience that this helps clients become more aware that they are standing mainly on their stronger leg. This constant stimulation is feedback for the body and brain that you can modulate and influence and stop by repeatedly shifting your body weight to stand on your weaker leg. This shift and change happens quicker than if a physio, your family or support workers need to remind you. I have also found that most clients prefer having the stimulation as the trigger rather than someone having to remind them of this.

Walking FES helps the weak muscles build strength and endurance as you use it

FES talks to the nerve but the endurance and strength in these muscles have also been affected and this is what we also have to work on. This is why often during trials or assessments, clients can walk really well for a few metres and then the stimulation has to be turned up or they need to have a rest before going again as their muscles have to build up strength and endurance. We often underestimate just how many times these smalls muscles are contracting and lifting our feet up when walking… Makes you think does it!