Functional electrical stimulation [bioengineering]

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) or functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) is the name that has been given to the controlled stimulation of muscles in order to return some function. After a spinal injury, muscle wastes very rapidly, particularly in the large muscles of the thigh. The author shows that routine stimulation of muscles with an exercise stimulator over many weeks or months, often for 1-2 hours a day, is needed to bring the muscle bulk back to the level where it can support the person when standing. It is only at this point that any kind of ambulation can be attempted