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Updated: Sep 28, 2026
Paradigms of Lower Extremity Electrical Stimulation Training After Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: February 1, 2018
Three-year follow-up of an implanted functional electrical stimulation system for upright mobility in a child with a
Randal R Betz1, Therese E Johnston, Brian T Smith
1Shriners Hospitals for Children, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, USA.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to compare the use of a functional electrical stimulation (FES) system with the use of knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFO) for upright mobility over a 3-year period in a child with a spinal cord injury (SCI).
Methods:
A 13-year-old boy with a T8 complete SCI received a lower extremity implanted FES system. Electrodes were implanted for knee extension and for hip extension, abduction, and adduction. After training and at annual intervals, independence and timeliness in completing 7 upright mobility activities with FES and KAFO, as well as stimulated muscle strength, were assessed.
Results:
Results have shown that FES provided independence equal to that of KAFO for all activities. Four activities were accomplished more quickly with FES, including donning the system, reaching a high object, transferring to a high surface, and walking 6 m. A floor-to-stand transfer was faster with KAFO. Functional results and stimulated muscle strength have remained stable over the 3-year period.
Conclusion:
The results indicate that FES can provide function equal to or faster than KAFO in a child with a T8 complete SCI and that performance with the FES system can remain stable for at least 3 years.
