Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)
Referrals, Assessment and Ongoing Care
Referrals are received from healthcare professionals and are screened. The patient is invited for an assessment to decide whether FES is a suitable treatment for them.
Referrals, Assessment and Ongoing Care
Referrals are received from healthcare professionals and are screened. The patient is invited for an assessment to decide whether FES is a suitable treatment for them.
FES pathway of care and inclusion criteria
FES cannot be used where there is a pacemaker or defibrillator in place or with uncontrolled Epilepsy.
An assessment takes about an hour. If patients do not respond to FES, they will be discharged.
If FES can help, an appointment will be booked to issue a FES machine and teach the patient how to use it. Outcome measures are recorded for future comparison.
Further appointments are made so that the progress can be measured and adjustments made to the stimulator or exercise programme.
Some patients use stimulation independently everyday - others use it as part of their physiotherapy treatment. Some patients continue to use FES for many years, others only for a period of a few months. Treatment continues for as long as it is appropriate for the patient.