Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a treatment that uses electrical stimulation to activate specific muscles and nerves. The impulses will make the muscles contract to lift your foot up, for example. FES is commonly used for neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, spinal cord injury, and cerebral palsy.

FES improves your ability to move your muscles. It does not cure paralysis, but it helps strengthen muscles that would otherwise not move on their own. If appropriate, it can be used to replace wearing an ankle-foot orthosis but may also be used in conjunction.