Functional Electrical Stimulation in Neurorehabilitation
Description
This book provides a comprehensive overview of functional electrical stimulation (FES), starting with the fundamental principles that underpin its clinical application. It covers essential topics such as the role of electrical stimulation parameters, indications and contraindications, and the principles of motor learning. In addition, key concepts including neuromodulation and neuroplasticity are explored, alongside ICF-based goal setting and the current evidence in the field of neurorehabilitation.
Building on this foundation, the book presents a wide range of practical applications of FES in neurological patients. These include its use in upper motor neuron lesions, lower motor neuron lesions, and mixed clinical presentations. Special attention is given to pediatric applications, the implementation of FES in home-based rehabilitation settings, and its role in improving gait and overall mobility.
Furthermore, the book highlights the potential of combining FES with other therapeutic approaches to enhance outcomes. These combination therapies include mirror therapy, the use of botulinum neurotoxin, hybrid technologies, thermoplastic splints, FES cycling, and biofeedback techniques.
Applications in the head and neck region are also addressed, with specific focus on conditions such as facial palsy, dysphagia, dysarthria, and vocal fold paralysis.
Finally, the book explores special indications and emerging approaches in FES, including its use in neuro-urological disorders. It also introduces innovative concepts such as task-paired auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS), and sensory afferent stimulation (SAS) for neuromodulation
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Persons
Thomas Schick , MSc has been a physiotherapist since 1993 and has gained extensive experience in the field of neurorehabilitation. He has led several teams at German rehabilitation clinics. He also holds a qualification as a specialist in social and health care. For more than 28 years, he has been active as a lecturer in various neurological rehabilitation approaches. Among other activities, he regularly teaches in the master's degree program in Neurorehabilitation at the Center for Neurorehabilitation at Danube University Krems, Austria. The central focus of his professional work is the transfer and deepening of knowledge in the field of functional electrical stimulation (FES). After completing his master's degree in Neurorehabilitation in 2015, he joined Neurorehabilitation STIWELL, a department of the international company MED-EL, headquartered in Innsbruck, Austria. In his role as Head of the Department of Neurorehabilitation, he is responsible for the development of medical products from a medical-therapeutic perspective, the implementation of training programs, and scientific work in the field of FES. He is a lifetime member of the International Functional Electrical Stimulation Society (IFESS) and has published several articles in professional journals. He is also the author and the editor of the German- and English language 1st edition therapeutic textbook entitled Functional Electrical Stimulation in Neurorehabilitation.
Ines Bersch-Porada , MSc, PhD is working at the Swiss Paraplegic Centre since 1991 and has been Head of the International FES Centre® since 2018. Her work focuses on functional electrical stimulation (FES) and its implementation in the rehabilitation of people suffering from paraplegia and neuromusculoskeletal disorders.
Additionally, she teaches at the Universities of Applied Sciences in Bern and Basel. In 2012, the author obtained a Master of Science in Neurorehabilitation Research and her PhD in Clinical Sciences at the University of Gothenburg. Her topic was focusing on upper and lower motoneuron lesions in tetraplegia-diagnostic and therapeutic implications of electrical stimulation. Apart from her clinical work, she gives lectures and organizes workshops. As a clinician, scientist, lecturer, and active member of the IFESS, she implements FES in clinical practice based on clinical study results and new technologies.
Patricia Meier, PhD graduated as a physiotherapist from the University of Applied Sciences for Health, in Innsbruck, Austria, in 2010. She continued her further qualifications at the Danube University Krems, Austria, obtaining a master's degree in Neurorehabilitation in 2018. In 2026, she completed her PhD in Neuroscience at the Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria. She is working at the Medical University of Innsbruck´s Department of Neurology since 2011, becoming head of the Department of Neurorehabilitation in 2025. She is actively involved in clinical stroke research, focusing intensively on motor (re-)learning approaches and their effects on neural reorganization. Moreover, she is a lecturer in the field of neurorehabilitation, at the University of Applied Sciences for Health, as well as at several national and international conferences. Throughout her career, she has contributed to the development of national guidelines (treatment pathway stroke) and is a member of the World Stroke Organization´s (WSO) rehabilitation implementation committee.
Content
Foreword.- Preface.- Acknowledgement.- Part 1 Basics: 1 Introduction and history of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES).- 2 Plasticity and motor learning.- 3 Neuromodulation and Neuroplasticity induced by Electrical Stimulation.- 4 Role of electrical parameters in Functional Electrical Stimulation.- 5 Absolute and relative contraindications.- 6 ICF-based objectives in the FES.- 7 Evidence on Functional Electrical Stimulation.- Part 2 Practical application on neurologic patient: 8 Functional Electrical Stimulation for Motor Function Disorders due to Damage to the Central Nervous System.- 9 Functional Electrical Stimulation to Improve Walking.- 10 Electrical Stimulation for Improvement of Function and Muscle Architecture in Lower Motor Neuron Lesions.- 11 Pediatric Neurological Conditions and FES.- 12 FES and home-based therapy.- Part 3 Combination therapies with FES: 13 Combination FES and Mirror therapy (MT).- 14 FES and BoNT-A in spastic movement disorders.- 15 Hybrid technologies and FES.- 16 Thermoplastic splints or orthosis for upper and lower limbs and FES.- 17 FES-Cycling for Spinal Cord and Stroke Patients.- 18 FES and Biofeedback Training.- Part 4 FES in the area of the head and neck: 19 Functional Electrical Stimulation in the Treatment of Facial Palsy.- 20 Functional Electrical Stimulation in Dysphagia Treatment.- 21 Treatment of Dysarthria with FES.- 22 Functional Electrical Stimulation in Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis.- PART 5 Special indications: 23 Functional Electrical Stimulation in neuro-urologic disorders.- 24 Sensory afferent stimulation.- 25 Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation.- 26 Task-paired auricular vagus nerve stimulation for neurorehabilitation.- Index.