The Model System Knowledge and Translation Center (MSKTC) is a national center that helps facilitate the knowledge translation process to make research meaningful to those with Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Burn Injury. In previous articles, we have featured the Factsheets on Autonomic Dysreflexia, Managing Pain, Wheelchair Information, and more. While it is impossible to teach you all there is to know about how a spinal cord injury (SCI) affects the body and the recovery afterward, these fact sheets include some essential information to help you on your journey after SCI.
People with a spinal cord injury (SCI) often have weakness in their arm, leg, or trunk muscles. This weakness may be partial or complete, making some movements difficult or impossible. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) can often help with weak muscles. FES delivers small electrical pulses to weak muscles. This allows muscles to contract and move body parts in valuable ways. FES uses sticky pads called electrodes to deliver the pulses in a controlled manner. The electrodes go directly on the skin over the target muscles.
The MSKTC works closely with researchers in the 18 Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Model System Centers to develop practical resources for people with spinal cord injuries and their supporters. These user-friendly resources, grounded in evidence, are available in various formats, such as printable PDF documents, videos, and slideshows. We highly recommend you check out this guide and their library of spinal cord injury care factsheets. You can check them out at https://msktc.org/sci/factsheets/functional-electrical-stimulation-fes-sci
