Functional Electrical Stimulation

Cardiac pacemakers, cochlear stimulators, and bladder stimulators have achieved widespread clinical acceptance. However, stimulators to replace limb functions have been less successful, in part, due to the complexity and variety of normal limb movements and the need for sensory information to control these movements. Recently, progress has been made for walking and for arm function, and several devices using electrical stimulation have now reached the market. Devices to replace limited deficits (foot drop; spastic closure of the hand) have the greatest chance for rapid acceptance and can provide a basis for developing devices to replace a wider range of functions.