b'Symptom ManagementState of the Art in Physical State of the Art in Physical Therapy Technology Therapy Technology Electrical stimulation, body weight support, Electrical stimulation, body weight support, and VR systems help in a variety of ways.and VR systems help in a variety of ways.By Brian SmithThe foundation of improvement or recoveryactivates the sensory system to decrease pain.in therapy will always be hard work on the partFunctional electrical stimulation is also of both the therapist and patient. Those who areused to promote strength through activation willing to implement the exercises and strategiesof muscle and nerves. FES devices are available they learn in therapy will have better outcomesfor a variety of tasks involving legs, arms, and andimprovedlong-termfunctionintheireven for swallowing.daily activities. Therapy can be more enjoyable,Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, occurs in and sometimes more effective, with the useMS when the muscles and nerves responsible of technology. While there is never a goodfor swallowing are weakened. Electrical time to have an injury or debilitating disease,stimulation can provide small electrical pulses advancements in technology make it anto the neck muscles involved in swallowing exciting time for healthcare and therapy. through special electrodes attached to the skin. Electrical stimulationOne device to perform this task is VitalStim.The rst uses of electrical stimulation dateBikes and devices back thousands of years to ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans who used shes capableIn clinic (but also available for home use), of generating electric shocks for pain relief.we use FES bikes for arm and leg training. While we have advanced past shes, we continueFES bikes can help improve and maintain to use electrical stimulation to treat pain. Amuscle strength and endurance, improve range techniquecalledtranscutaneouselectricalof motion, and reduce pain and stiffness. nerve stimulation uses a small battery-poweredThese multichannel stimulators can activate device to apply a small electric current toseveral muscle groups in a cyclical pattern. electrodes on the skin. This electric signalCommon FES bikes include RT 300, Myocycle, msfocusmagazine.org 14'