Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) is commonly used to assist with which functional tasks?

• A. Dorsiflexion during gait or grasp in hemiparesis
• B. Heat therapy to joints
• C. Sensory testing
• D. Blood pressure regulation

Answer: (A)

Functional Electrical Stimulation is used to evoke purposeful muscle contractions to support movement in people with neurological impairment. It is especially helpful for enabling tasks that require coordinated ankle or hand function. Stimulating the muscles responsible for dorsiflexion, such as the tibialis anterior, during the swing phase of gait helps lift the foot, improve toe clearance, and reduce foot drop, making walking safer and more efficient. Similarly, applying stimulation to wrist or finger extensors can assist with grasp and release in individuals with hemiparesis, supporting functional hand use.

The other options do not involve producing functional movements through muscle activation with electrical stimulation. Heat therapy, sensory testing, and blood pressure regulation are addressed by different therapeutic approaches, not by functional electrical stimulation.