Spinal cord injury (SCI) or multiple sclerosis (MS) can produce total or partial paralysis. The person who has one of these conditions may be unable to move parts of his or her body. Breathing, blood circulation, bladder and bowel function may also be affected.

In the last 30 years, medical scientists and engineers have invented methods and devices to assist with these problems.  One technique is called functional electrical stimulation (FES) (pronounced “ef-ee-es”.)

Because FES can be applied to many different physical problems, any person with SCI or MS may want to investigate FES as a treatment option.

FES is a method of applying low level electrical currents to the body to restore or improve function.  A heart pacemaker is one example of an FES system.  Other types of FES may restore lost abilities such as standing or grasping.  Also, FES may assist with some secondary problems of paralysis such as poor blood circulation or slow wound healing. 

When used in these ways, the treatment may simply be called electrical stimulation or ES.

It is important to understand that FES is not a cure for spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis. FES is an assistive technology.

For people with a complete spinal lesion, FES provides benefits only when the system is operating. When the system is turned off, the benefits will disappear.  People with an incomplete spinal lesion or multiple sclerosis may be able to use FES to recall some amount of voluntary muscle function, so that when the FES system is turned off, the user may still receive benefits.

This is a therapeutic benefit of FES.  FES itself does not reverse paralysis.

Finally, people with certain types of nerve damage cannot be helped by FES. Despite the limitations, one of the exciting things about FES is that improvements in function are possible for people of any age and any duration, level, or completeness of injury. Many FES techniques are still experimental. Yet, they hold real promise for helping people with paralysis. For some individuals, FES can improve physical and emotional health in ways that cannot be achieved with other methods available today.