FES can be used as an orthotic substitution for which conditions?

• A. Foot drop and Hand grip
• B. Knee buckling
• C. Shoulder subluxation
• D. Ankle sprain

Answer: (A)

Functional Electrical Stimulation can act as an orthotic substitute by producing the necessary muscle contractions to perform a functional movement, effectively replacing the role of a mechanical brace for that task. For foot drop, stimulating the dorsiflexors (like the tibialis anterior) during the swing phase lifts the foot and clears the toes, functioning similarly to an ankle–foot orthosis but through active muscle action. For hand grip, stimulating the finger/wrist flexors enables grasp and release, substituting for a hand splint or grasp assist in daily tasks.

Knee buckling, shoulder subluxation, and ankle sprain are not classic targets for orthotic substitution with FES in the same way. They involve different stability or injury considerations, and FES is not typically used as the primary substitute for an external brace in those scenarios.