Rihamu, motion training with functional electrical stimulation.
Since my accident, a lot has changed, professionally, privately, and also regarding my spinal cord
injury.
The sensitivity has returned to normal.
At this point, I can almost move my right leg by myself.
The left leg is about to come.
Motivated by this, we performed first steps with the help of functional electrical stimulation
during my last visit to the hospital.
Depending on the level of strength and residual function, gate training can be incorporated
into the therapy in patients with hemiplegia or in patients with a spinal cord injury.
The muscular function can be profoundly supported by functional electrical stimulation with
in this therapy.
From a therapeutic point of view, upright posture is important for a stable cardiovascular
system.
Initially, Alexander conducted simple standing exercises supported by functional electrical
stimulation.
By doing this, his static postural muscles were strengthened.
For Alexander, this was a special event.
All the time during my rehab, I had one big goal in mind, to finally stand on my own two
legs and talk to other people at eye level.
The gate training is very exhausting for me because I still have to compensate a lot with
the upper body and arms.
But I'm confident that this training will bring me closer to my big goal step by step.
The rehab move can stimulate with up to eight channels.
On this basis, standing exercises and complete motion sequences can be supported by the stimulation.
With a press of the external switch, a step is triggered.
Alexander continues to work on himself.
With each session, his legs regain a bit more function.
Today he goes one step further than yesterday.
Next time, he may be able to stand a little longer.
His little advances help him and give him confidence.
With the right partners at his side, he will achieve even more in the future.
No one can guarantee that I'll ever be able to walk the way I used to.
But I'm sure I wouldn't have come this far without intensive therapy, without electrical
stimulation and without the rehab move.
Since my accident, I enjoy the little things.
It looks to many like a small step is already a big step for me.
