Functional electrical stimulation cycling in youth with spinal cord injury: A review of intervention studies

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2014 · DOI: 10.1179/2045772313Y.0000000183 · Published: May 1, 2014

Simple Explanation

This review examines the use of functional electrical stimulation cycling (FESC) in children and adolescents with spinal cord injury (SCI). FESC involves using electrical current to activate muscles, creating a cycling motion. The goal is to understand if FESC can help mitigate the negative effects of inactivity and improve health outcomes for young people with SCI. The review looks at several studies to assess the safety and effectiveness of FESC. The review found limited, but encouraging evidence that FESC is a safe modality to mitigate effects of inactivity in youth with SCI and may improve cardiovascular health and muscle strength. However, more research is needed.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Six intervention studies, sample sizes ranged from 4 to 30 participants, ages 5-20 years with SCI

Evidence Level

Levels II and IV, Randomized Controlled Trial and Case Series

Key Findings

1
FESC appears to be a safe intervention for youth with SCI, with no reported increase in knee/hip injury or hip displacement.
2
One randomized controlled trial suggests that a 6-month FESC program can positively influence VO2 levels and quadriceps strength compared to passive cycling and electrical stimulation alone.
3
There is tentative evidence suggesting that FESC may enhance bone mineral density and quality of life in youth with SCI, although more research is needed to confirm these findings.

Research Summary

This review assessed the evidence for FESC intervention in youth with SCI, finding six intervention studies that met the inclusion criteria. The studies were evaluated for methodological quality and level of evidence. The findings suggest that FESC is a safe modality to mitigate the effects of inactivity in youth with SCI and can improve outcomes, such as VO2 levels and quadriceps muscle strength and volume. Despite the encouraging results, the review emphasizes the need for more rigorous research with a greater number of participants to confirm the effectiveness of FESC and determine its impact on activity and participation levels.

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

Clinicians can consider FESC as a safe intervention for youth with SCI to mitigate the effects of inactivity. Monitor relevant outcomes before and after use of FESC.

Further Research

Future studies should focus on larger sample sizes and more rigorous methodologies to confirm the effectiveness of FESC and determine its impact on activity and participation levels.

Application to Other Neurological Disorders

Research is needed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of FESC in youth with neurological disorders similar to SCI, such as meningomyelocele.

Study Limitations

1
Limited number of intervention studies available.
2
Small sample sizes in most of the included studies.
3
Results primarily focused on body structure and function dimensions, with limited evidence on activity and participation levels.

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