Table 3 Recommendations for Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) with Young Children
Type | Perceived Challenge | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
Program structure & delivery | Difficulty balancing time commitment | • Ensure flexibility to accommodate family schedules (i.e. back to back sessions, intensive camps) |
Location of intervention | • Ensure FES offered in family friendly facilities to address sibling and family needs. • Improved availability in community settings would reduce travel time required for participation. | |
Session Delivery | Children unfamiliar with electrical stimulation | • Incorporate familiarization sessions to improve child comfort with the device and sensation. • Consider individual needs of each child to determine level of familiarization needed |
Engaging young children in intensive therapy | • Ensure therapist is flexible, creative, and provides an individualized approach to each session. • Child’s disposition and previous experience with therapy may influence engagement in therapy |