What is FES?
Your Appointment
What happens at the first appointment?
Where will my appointment take place?
Useful links
What is FES?
Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) is a treatment that uses small electrical charges to produce muscle activity or a muscle contraction. The most common problem treated by FES is dropped
foot. People with dropped foot have problems lifting their foot when walking. This causes the toes to catch on the ground, resulting in trips and falls. Dropped foot is caused by weakness in the muscles that lift the foot and tightness (spasticity) in the calf muscles. FES works by producing a muscle contraction that helps lift the foot up when walking. FES can help people walk safer, faster, with less effort and with more confidence.
Your Appointment
Your MS Consultant, MS nurse or physiotherapist has referred you for an assessment to see if Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) may help your walking. Your appointment letter gives the date and time of your appointment. If you are unable to attend, please call us on 028 9615 3131 as soon as possible. We can rearrange an appointment for you and offer yours to another patient.
Please be aware you may be discharged from the service if you do not attend your appointment without telling us.
What happens at the first appointment?
You will be carefully assessed by a specialist physiotherapist. This will involve asking you about your medical history and your lifestyle, doing a physical assessment of your movements and observing you walking. We don’t always use the FES device on the first appointment. Your first appointment may last up to 2 hours.
Where will my appointment take place?
Your appointment will take place with the FES Service which is located in the main Physiotherapy Department in the Belfast City Hospital, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AB.
Physiotherapy is next to:
Wing G
Outpatients Department
Ground Floor
Hospital Tower Block
From the Main Entrance, follow the signs for Outpatients Dept. Look for the sign for Wing G. Physiotherapy is on your left.
Useful links
Regional Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Service
FES Service General Information for Patients
Skin and electrode care for FES users
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How should I prepare for my FES appointment?
- Wear comfortable shoes, such as trainers, and clothing that can be easily pulled up above the knee. You can bring shorts or other suitable clothing to change into.
- Do not shave your legs or apply moisturising cream on the day of your appointment. This may affect the electrical pads.
- Bring reading glasses if you wear them.
- If we have asked you to fill in any questionnaires, complete these before your appointment and bring them with you.
- Think about your main problems with walking and what you wish to improve. It can be helpful to write these down, and any questions you want to ask.
- You are welcome to bring someone with you.
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Can I take the device home?
If FES can help, you will be offered follow-up appointments. These are to set the stimulator up specifically for you and teach you how to use it. If all goes well, you will be given the device on loan to use at home.
You will need to attend further appointments to measure your progress and for us to check and adjust the stimulator.
Any equipment you are given by the clinic is on loan to you for the duration of your treatment. It remains the property of the FES Service. You must return the device when requested. You will be asked to pay for any unreturned equipment if you do not continue treatment with us.
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How often will I need to come to clinic?
You will need to come back to the clinic at least 6 times in the first year of using the device. After that, at least once a year as long as you are still using the device.
- Where can I get more information?