FES results

[DustinRogers]

Ok so I've read alot about the benefits of FES and wanted to know what improvements people here have actually seen from it.

[graybeard]

HI Dustin.... I have been using the FES for approx. 3 weeks now. I have gained some muscle strength. I have cycled 45 min. at 32 rpm(lowest setpoint) with resistance set at 1/8 Kp, and able to keep stim btwn 40-60%. PT sez I should increase resistance this week to gage progress. I am T 7/8 inc. Trying to walk agin.

[Jr.]

The Empi FOCUS Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulator!

I am looking for any free Pictorial diagrams of where
to exactly place electrodes over skin, over motor point of the targeted muscles? Specificly Posterior view and anterior view. I am a T-10 para complete and would also appreciate any info on muscles effected at T-10 and to what sement of the spinal cord the nerve roots branch out at. I basicly want to know what muscles i should be able to stimulate with my NMES?

[LaMemChose]

A friend of mine is using the bike and has awesome legs. I saw a pic of him today in shorts and his legs rock!

He hasn't lost any muscle mass since he became a quad.

I had no idea those bikes work that well. I'm wondering if I can get access to one.

Are others having similar results?

[cali]

my legs were hot like before i got hurt while i was using the fes.
i had hurt my hip and had to stop and i don't have access to one on a regular basis (about every 6 months and only for a few minutes)

i only have turkey flab now...

[Jr.]

One more question? Anyone ever get word of long term effects using FES. Can using FES for many years possibly cause unseen dammage , ruining a chance for effective therapies in the future?

[cali]

i never heard of that. i only heard positive results.

as far as injuries go, i had trauma to the muscles around my hip, my one ham and glute.

my doctors talked to specialists all over the country and no one ever heard of fes doing any damage.

i wasn't doing any therapy that would cause that, i was only doing fes and tilt table at the time.

[Jeff Weeks]

LMC - My legs get big. They look like that of a speed skater. This is because I stay on the bike and rest my legs after my ride.... then pedal 2 minutes on the highest resistance. The low rep/high resistance pedaling adds massive muscle bulk.

[LaMemChose]

Okay, so I need to access one of those bikes. I had no idea until today just how effective those bikes can be.

[shoc13]

LMC - My legs get big. They look like that of a speed skater. This is because I stay on the bike and rest my legs after my ride.... then pedal 2 minutes on the highest resistance. The low rep/high resistance pedaling adds massive muscle bulk.

I'm going to give that a try - great idea. How long, how often do you ride the bike?

[DustinRogers]

thanks guys, i've ordered my bike and good thing i don't have kids cuz i would have had to sell them. it takes 3 weeks to get here, so keep on reminding me i didnt waste enough money to buy a new car.

[jb]

i've been using fes bike for about a yr now. i also do lots of other exercises adding to improved strength. it's hard to tell if that helped or not. i'm sure it must have. i have very minimal toned quads and the calves are awful looking. they're so thin. now the bike doesn't do anything for the calves but comparing them to how the quads look there is a difference. i'm going to use it as long as they let me so maybe there will be less atrophy eventually.

[cheesecake]

I am looking for any free Pictorial diagrams of where
to exactly place electrodes over skin, over motor point of the targeted muscles? Specificly Posterior view and anterior view. I am a T-10 para complete and would also appreciate any info on muscles effected at T-10 and to what sement of the spinal cord the nerve roots branch out at. I basicly want to know what muscles i should be able to stimulate with my NMES?

JR~
I spent 4 hours in rehab just working to identify what muscles would respond and to get the proper placement. It is a process of trial and error. I have my charts with measurements for placement but they would most likly not apply to you. I am working on abs, quads, gluts, and shoulder/back muscles. Additionally I am using it for bicep/tricep and to get my clawed hand to open. I have exercises to do when the electrodes are on. My goal is improved trunk and quad strength to improve my standing, etc. I have gone from a para to a quad so we are trying to isolate what I do have to maintain my ability to walk.

PT me if you have other questions.

[Jeff Weeks]

shoc13 - I've been pedaling again for three weeks after a 12 week hiatus that caused my legs to shrink. I had spent so much time abroad, away from my bike, that it was impossible to avoid. I'm now pedaling every 36 hours..... like clockwork. I allow nothing to stop me. I'm shocked that I'm back in business so fast. Wow. I've almost achieved pre-hiatus conditioning.

jb - There is electricity bleed-over to the calves..... at least using a stimmaster. The calves increase in size over time.

My wife found me asleep one day [Dec 2004] with my chest on the bed and my knees on the floor cuz my big legs were just too heavy to pull up. I used to be able to drag my whole body up on the bed. Now my legs are just too big and heavy. I had fallen off my FES bike cuz it was so slippery after spraying myself with water during my ride. So, I crawled across the floor.... tried to get on the bed..... couldn't do it...... and then just went to sleep...... lol. Wife came home delighted to see my naked butt and snapped the photo. I've removed the background and glaring oriphice from the photo so you can see what paralyzed legs and buttocks can look like...... even on a quad. I am very close to achieving that shape again...... making gains now with every ride.

If even one person decides to get a bike from looking at my photo then I'll be happy to endure every joke you can throw at me! Besides, soon I'll surpass that photo and it won't look like me anymore, anyway.

So................. G E T ~ A ~ B I K E !~!

There is just no other way to achieve the manifold improvement in cardiovascular system, immune system, bowel function, reduced risk of pressure sores, increased self-esteem, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc. FES....... there is no substitute.

Edited to add another photo.... so you will have to click to see my butt.

[j c]

awesome looking legs jeff i grudge you(lol) whats the cost for the fes bikes?