Spinal cord
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This review describes the state of art in the field of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and its impact on improving grasping and walking functions in acute and chronic Spinal Cord Injured (SCI) patients. It is argued that during the early rehabilitation period the FES systems with surface stimulation electrodes should be used to assist training of hand and leg movements in SCI patients. Our clinical trials have shown that a number of acute SCI patients with impaired walking and grasping functions could improve these functions due to training with an adjustable FES system to the point that they finally did not need the FES system to carry out these tasks. ⋯ The limited acceptance of the FES technology can be in part explained by the fact that it is not completely mature and that the patients still require daily assistance to use the FES systems. Nevertheless the present FES treatments combined with conventional occupational and physical therapy still remain the most promising approach in rehabilitating SCI patients. In this review, advantages and limitations of different FES systems that are used to restore grasping and walking functions are discussed.