FES cycling
Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) cycling is a neurological treatment that sends small electrical currents via sticky pads placed on the skin to a nerve. This nerve stimulation then activates a muscle that is weakened or paralysed, either due to injury or a neurological disorder.
What Is FES Cycling?
An FES Bike is a power-assisted static bike that has been combined with functional electrical stimulation to achieve coordinated muscle contractions. These muscle contractions enable the patient to produce strong pedal strokes and perform a cycling action.
Who Can Benefit From FES Cycling?
At VIM Health, we help a wide range of people living with neurological disorders or recovering from injuries. FES Cycling is used alongside other cutting-edge rehabilitation technology to provide high-tech solutions and therapies for people with injuries and neurological conditions. FES Cycling is beneficial for people with:
- Spinal Cord Injury complete or incomplete above T12
- Brain Injury
- Stroke
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson’s
- Cerebral Palsy
To use a FES bike, you should have sufficient movement in your upper or lower limbs to achieve the cycling motion.
Benefits
To see the benefits of FES Cycling, it is recommended that you use the bike at least three times per week. An FES Cycling session should last between 45-60 minutes, however, this may not be achievable straight away. It may be recommended that you build up an exercise tolerance gradually.
The benefits of FES Cycling include:
- Increases muscle strength
- Prevention of pressure sores
- Maintenance of muscle length
- Maintenance of joint mobility
- Relaxation of muscle spasms
- Increased local blood circulation
- Improved bladder function
- Improved bowel function
- Improved mood and mental wellbeing
Other Technologies
Bioness Go
The Bioness Go is designed to aid muscle movement in the lower limbs, enabling the user to lift their foot off the ground with ease
