The UK’s Leading Provider of FES
Improving people’s lives worldwide
What Is Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)?
FES is a treatment that uses small electrical impulses to help muscles move more effectively following damage to the brain or spinal cord. It can help improve walking, reduce the risk of trips and falls and support greater independence in everyday life.
Its most common use is to improve walking, especially for dropped foot, but it can also aid upper limb (hand, arm, shoulder) movement and allow other muscle groups to improve function in daily life. It can be used for adults and children.
How does FES help?
Depending on the application, FES can have the following clinically proven benefits:
- Increases safety due to reduced tripping and increased stability in stance
- Increases walking speed and range
- Reduces effort of walking
- More likely to be able to do daily tasks with hand, arm and shoulder
- Less reliant on a carer/partner
- Reduces pain
- Less fatigue
- Improves quality of life
- Greater confidence and independence
National guidelines
FES is supported by extensive clinical research and guidelines
NICE guidelines
Funding
In England the funding of NHS FES treatment is agreed by each local Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). While FES treatment for dropped foot is a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved treatment, each ICB can decide if they will adopt this recommendation and commission FES for their local area. Please contact us for more information about your area.
Clinics
OML has 21 clinics across the UK and accept both NHS and private referrals.
Don’t just take our word for it…
OML conduct an annual FES user survey to record opinions regarding the service, the equipment and the effects of the treatment. A questionnaire was sent to a random selection of 398 service users. OML received 161 responses.
Key highlights:
- 86% of FES users report a reduction in the incidence of falls after using FES.
- 100% of FES users would be extremely likely or likely to recommend the service to a family member or friends who had similar problems with walking.
- 89% would rate the clinical treatment as excellent.
- The most frequently cited reason for using FES was improved confidence (88%) while walking. This is likely associated with an increased sense of safety during walking, linked to a reduced risk of falls (86%) and decreased walking effort (86%), alongside increased walking distance (85%).
What our FES users say...
“FES has enabled me to get my life back. I have done things and gone places I could only dream of a few years ago.”
“It changed my life. One minute I was struggling around with a walking stick and the next I could walk without it. It gave me confidence and I’m no longer dependent on other people – I can just go.”
