New to FES
Please click here to find out more about how FES works.
- Stroke
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Spinal cord injury above T12
- Cerebral Palsy
- Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia
- Head injury
- Parkinson’s disease
- Or any other neurological condition or injury that affects the brain or spinal cord above T12
Please fill in the form below and one of the OML team will be in contact with you.
Provided that funding is agreed, you can be seen in some cases within a week.
We do not have a long waiting list and will try our best to organise an assessment as quickly as possible.
Paying for your own treatment is possible.
Please read about treatment pathways click here or contact us on enquiries@odstockmedical.com or 01722 439 540 to find out more about treatment options and costs.
If you are under the care of an OML trained clinician, you have the option to purchase the equipment. Speak to your clinician or call our team +44 (0)1722 439 540 to find out more.
Please note: if you are being treated in Salisbury, or in one of the Outreach Clinics, the supplied equipment is on loan (regardless if you are self-funding or NHS funded).
Once your treatment is stopped, then the equipment is to be returned to OML.
We have not had any reported problems with using FES on the lower limbs for clients with implanted baclofen pumps, however as with all implanted devices we advise that clinicians should seek advice from the manufacturer of the implanted device or ask the team who reviews the implanted device to perform tests to demonstrate that FES is safe with the device in situ.
The best way to keep up to date with our developments is through this website.
We will publish details of new products when they are available.
OML patients may also be informed at their clinic appointment or by letter.
For dropped foot:
You will be asked to attend a suitability assessment either at Salisbury or one of our other OML clinics.
You will then have 2 clinic appointments to begin treatment, usually within one week and then adults usually have follow-up visits at 6, 18, 44 and 72 weeks and then every year for as long as FES is used.
Children are the same except for they are seen twice a year for as long as FES is used.
For all our treatment pathways please click here.
Generally FES for footdrop takes effect immediately, as the electrical stimulation activates the nerve that makes the foot lift and corrects the footdrop. However, there are certain circumstances where improvements happen over time and the device is adjusted accordingly as the walking pattern changes.
For some people FES will not be immediately effective, but as muscle tone, power and tightness changes over time, the FES may become more effective. This may require the Pace to be used as an exercise stimulator for a period first of all, then once the muscles around the leg and ankle have strengthened and loosened, the Pace then becomes more effective at correcting footdrop when walking.
For some people, FES isn’t appropriate for a wide variety of reasons. A clinician can answer this best when assessing a patient.
FES is a well researched and established technique. Please visit the following link or search our knowledge base for more information.
Possible improvements include increased walking speed, reduced effort and reduced risk of tripping.
Please click here to see some video examples of FES being used.
Also see the Testimonial section.
If a patient is seen at the Glanville Centre at Salisbury Hospital, then they can contact customer services if they require new consumables (electrodes, leads etc), visit our product page or they can also phone up and speak to a clinician if they have a problem with their walking or a change in their medical condition. They can also speak to our technical team if they have a problem with their FES device and it requires repairing. Please contact us by calling 01722 439 540, email us on
enquiries@odstockmedical.com or complete this form
For all other patient who receive FES from other providers please contact your clinician.
For existing patients
The manual that comes with your stimulator should have diagrams of electrode positions.
Your clinician may have marked your electrode position in the manual or even issued you with photos of where your electrodes go.
If you continue to have problems, we recommend you contact the clinician that issued you with the equipment as they will be able to help. Or call us on +44 (0)1722 439 540 and a member of our team can help.
The manufacturer claims that the electrodes are good for about 30 applications. So using the stimulator every day means you should get about 1 months use.
After using the electrodes we advise to wet the electrodes a little, before putting them back on the ‘ON’ side of the plastic and sealing them in the original packaging or an airtight container.
Electrodes are only designed to last for 30 applications. So replace them if they are all dried out.
Quite often people use lotions or moisturisers on their legs. This can cause the electrode to peel off the leg. Make sure you have clean, dry skin before putting on the electrodes.
After using the electrodes we advise to wet the electrodes a little, before putting them back on the ‘ON’ side of the plastic and sealing them in the original packaging or an airtight container.
Our stimulators do not require any regular servicing or calibration.
They have a two year manufacturer’s warranty and should be returned to us for repair if a problem occurs.
If a stimulator becomes faulty due to damage by the user, we will charge for any repairs required.
Sometimes this is because the battery is not making contact with the silver battery tags inside the stimulator. This can happen if the stimulator is dropped. If you can see that the battery tags have over bent, then send the stimulator back to Odstock Medical for repair.
It might also be the battery. Make sure you use a good brand (we use Duracell©). If you are using rechargeable batteries then make sure they are charged frequently.
This is an indication of the lifespan of consumables based upon daily usage. If you have any questions, you should contact your FES provider.
| Part | Expected Service Life
|
| Electrodes | 3-4 weeks (these also have an expiry date on the packet) |
| Footswitch | 6-12 months
Change this if the plastic case starts to split or if your FES works on test mode, but not in walking. |
| Footswitch Lead | 6-12 months
Replace when the wire becomes stiff and is no longer pliable. |
| Electrode Lead | 6-12 months
Replace when the wire becomes stiff and is no longer pliable. |
| Cork insoles | 3 months |
| PP3 Battery 9V (non rechargeable battery) | 3-6 weeks (these also have an expiry date)
|
| PP3 Rechargeable Battery LiPo | 100 charge cycles (>65%)
|
| Battery Charger for rechargeable batteries (4 bay LiPo) | 5 years |
| ODFS® Pace (XL) | 5 years
(2 years for both the electrode and footswitch sockets on the device) |
The answer is a bit complicated and is regulated by HM Revenue and Customs.
Equipment that requires a fitting at a hospital is not VAT exempt therefore when you are set up with FES all of the equipment has to be charged with VAT.
However, the replacement of equipment that is specifically designed for FES are VAT exempt. This means the footswitch lead, footswitch and stimulator pouch are VAT exempt, when ordering replacements.
Other replacement equipment you may need like electrode leads and electrodes is not VAT exempt because it can be used on other equipment that is not specifically used for people with disabilities.
Please see this document for specific details. If you believe you qualify please contact us to complete the documentation.
Footswitches are supplied with double sided adhesive tape on each side.
Remove the plastic cover to expose the adhesive and attached to the underside of a cork or solid foam insole.
We do not recommend soft foam insoles as these tend to move within the shoe. If the switch is not fully secure, additional adhesive tape can be used.
For more information, see below:
Yes of course! Click on the link below to see videos of FES in action.
The best way to keep up to date with our developments is through this website.
We will publish details of new products when they are available.
OML patients may also be informed at their clinic appointment or by letter.
A very small number of patients may experience skin irritation where the electrodes are placed.
If skin irritation does occur, you should stop using your FES device and contact your clinician to talk through potential treatments and future prevention.
Before sending in your device for repair, check fault finding section in the manual. This may help you identify what the problem is and possible solutions for the problem.
If you are unable to solve the problem yourself, please send the device (remove batteries) back to us or your local distributor, placing it securely in a padded envelope or similar protective packaging. Please include any electrode or footswitch leads and footswitch. Please include a written note describing the problem and remember to include your contact details and the name of the clinic you received the stimulator from.
If the device is out of its warranty period, we will contact you and advise you of the cost of the repair.
Simply visit this page and complete the form.