How iFES Therapy Works

What is FES?

FES is a well established rehabilitation technique that uses pulses of electrical current to stimulate peripheral nerves (the "lower motor neurons" that connect the spinal cord to muscles) generating muscle contractions and patterned muscle activity.  FES is applied using adhesive pads placed over the muscle to be activated.

With Restorative Therapies' systems, FES creates patterned movement in the arms, legs and trunk.  In people with weak or paralyzed muscles, FES enables muscles to work and perform activities.  In addition, even if the individual may not be able to consciously participate, FES can facilitate muscle contractions and activity.

With our systems, you can stimulate muscles on one or both sides of your body; whatever you need.  You also have the ability to stimulate your "core muscles" during your therapy sessions.  These muscles are the erector spinae muscles in your back and your abdominal muscles.  These muscles are important for many activities including posture, balance, transferring, reaching and coughing.

Restorative Therapies integrates FES with an ergometer to create an "FES powered system".

What is an ergometer?

An ergometer is a machine that allows an individual to perform a repetitive motion. It guides the muscle activity evoked by FES into a useful pattern. Ergometers also measure the amount of work that muscles perform during an activity.

We motorize our RT200, RT300 and RT600 ergometers so they can automatically provide assistance or resistance throughout a therapy session as required by an individual.

Dynamic Motor Support

Dynamic Motor Support will help you maximize your outcomes by automatically controlling the motor throughout your therapy session. Dynamic Motor Support delivers accurate speed and resistance and makes the ergometer 100% responsive to your individual performance level, maximizing your muscle contractions and producing consistent, reliable therapy. While powerful, the ultra smooth motion operates very quietly.

When you first start FES therapy, it is likely that your muscles will tire quickly. The motor on the ergometer will help you to complete a full duration therapy session from day one even if you experience early muscle fatigue. As you progress with your therapy and your muscles condition, you will be able to overcome early muscle fatigue. The motor will then start to provide resistance for your muscles to work against. This is called active therapy.

Why is active therapy important?

During passive therapy, muscles don’t do any of the work. For example, arms and legs are moved mechanically by a non-FES.

Active therapy, on the other hand, allows muscles to do the work they are meant to do. This is achieved either by an individual moving their muscles on their own or when muscles are activated by FES. Either way, active therapy means muscles are working and becoming more conditioned to help you reach your goals.

Active therapy is required to reverse muscle atrophy because it is only in active therapy that your muscles actually perform work.

Who's using Restorative Therapies FES systems?

Since its launch in 2005 over 70,000 adults and children have undertaken over 1,600,000 therapy sessions on the RT300. They included people with both complete and incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Brain Injury, Transverse Myelitis, Leukodystrophy and Spina Bifida.
Also people in intensive care.

Be inspired by their experiences

Dynamic Motor Support

Dynamic Motor Support will help you maximize your outcomes by automatically controlling the motor throughout your therapy session. Dynamic Motor Support delivers accurate speed and resistance and makes the ergometer 100% responsive to your individual performance level, maximizing your muscle contractions and producing consistent, reliable therapy. While powerful, the ultra smooth motion operates very quietly.

When you first start FES therapy, it is likely that your muscles will tire quickly. The motor on the ergometer will help you to complete a full duration therapy session from day one even if you experience early muscle fatigue. As you progress with your therapy and your muscles condition, you will be able to overcome early muscle fatigue. The motor will then start to provide resistance for your muscles to work against. This is called active therapy.

What is an ergometer?

An ergometer is a machine that allows an individual to perform a repetitive motion. It guides the muscle activity evoked by FES into a useful pattern. Ergometers also measure the amount of work that muscles perform during an activity.

We motorize our RT200, RT300 and RT600 ergometers so they can automatically provide assistance or resistance throughout a therapy session as required by an individual.

Dynamic Motor Support

Dynamic Motor Support will help you maximize your outcomes by automatically controlling the motor throughout your therapy session. Dynamic Motor Support delivers accurate speed and resistance and makes the ergometer 100% responsive to your individual performance level, maximizing your muscle contractions and producing consistent, reliable therapy. While powerful, the ultra smooth motion operates very quietly.

When you first start FES therapy, it is likely that your muscles will tire quickly. The motor on the ergometer will help you to complete a full duration therapy session from day one even if you experience early muscle fatigue. As you progress with your therapy and your muscles condition, you will be able to overcome early muscle fatigue. The motor will then start to provide resistance for your muscles to work against. This is called active therapy.

Why is active therapy important?

During passive therapy, muscles don’t do any of the work. For example, arms and legs are moved mechanically by a non-FES.

Active therapy, on the other hand, allows muscles to do the work they are meant to do. This is achieved either by an individual moving their muscles on their own or when muscles are activated by FES. Either way, active therapy means muscles are working and becoming more conditioned to help you reach your goals.

Active therapy is required to reverse muscle atrophy because it is only in active therapy that your muscles actually perform work.

Who's using Restorative Therapies FES systems?

Since its launch in 2005 over 70,000 adults and children have undertaken over 1,600,000 therapy sessions on the RT300. They included people with both complete and incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Brain Injury, Transverse Myelitis, Leukodystrophy and Spina Bifida.
Also people in intensive care.

Be inspired by their experiences