England Physical Therapy is the
ONLY physical therapy practice in
Orange County trained in the use of the
NESS® L300™,
a revolution in Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) technology
that can help patients with life-altering neurological disorders
regain lost mobility and recapture their independence. Central
nervous system injuries often result in foot drop—leading to
instability and increased effort during gait.
The
NESS® L300™ is
an advanced neuroprosthesis designed to enable a more natural gait and
a return to a more normal lifestyle. It is a breakthrough intended
for treating foot drop associated with a number of conditions,
including stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral
palsy and incomplete spinal cord injury. In addition to facilitating
a more normal gait, the NESS L300 may also be used for muscle
reeducation, to prevent/retard disuse atrophy, to maintain or increase
joint range of motion and to increase blood flow.
Teresa England, PT,
MPT is uniquely qualified to fit patients with this advanced
technology as it demands expertise in normal and pathological gait.
Teresa England, PT, MPT has taught Observational Gait Analysis
internationally, nationally and in university settings for 20 years
and is a recognized expert in the field.
“I really
enjoy educating physical therapists and physical therapy students in
what I consider to be a cornerstone of our profession—analysis of
normal and abnormal movement. However, as much as I enjoy teaching,
I am a clinician at heart. I know this because
reflecting on highlights of my career does not bring thoughts of
personal accomplishments.
Instead,
my mind fills with snapshots of “fond moments” in which I had the
privilege of sharing the excitement and joy patients experience when
they regain an ability they thought they might never have again.
• First time
standing after a stroke…realizing “I will walk
again!” •
Early
in my career, I worked rehabilitating stroke patients at Rancho Los
Amigos Medical Center. We used to use an electrical stimulator wired to
a contact opening-closing heel switch in an attempt to turn the
electrical stimulation on and off at the right times in the gait cycle.
The idea was good, but our ability to adjust the timing and parameters
of the electrical stimulation effectively was very limited. Coming from
this background, I find the NESS L300 remarkable. It automatically
recalibrates the synchronization of the electrical stimulation every 4th
walking step as well as allows the me wireless fine-tuning of the
parameters to very precisely enhance normal walking in an individual’s
gait pattern. This is a tremendously powerful tool—a giant step ahead
of what we had before."
I’d like to share a memorable snapshot as it happened the first
time I trialed the Bioness NESS® L300™ on a patient. For as exciting as
the “technology” is, it is the rewarding satisfaction of how it has the
potential to change quality of life that draws me to its use in my
clinic . . .
Jane related to me that her stroke had occurred
at an early age—in her 30’s when she was at the height of an athletic
career. Since that time, she had been unable to lift her foot up. Her
current brace kept her foot from dragging, but contributed to other
problems in her gait cycle. She was seeing me to determine if another
type of brace might be more suitable. We decided to trial her with the
Bioness NESS® L300™. I turned the electrical stimulation on and began
to probe for the best placement site of the electrodes. My mind
captured a snapshot of the look of sheer amazement on her face, when for
the first time in 20 years, she saw her foot lift up. I will never
forget the way this wonderful lady laughed with joy when she stood and
walked without a brace without dragging her foot.
I expect the NESS
