Physical Therapists' Use of Functional Electrical Stimulation for Clients With Stroke: Frequency, Barriers, and Facilitators

Background Best practice guidelines for stroke rehabilitation recommend functional electrical stimulation (FES) to improve gait and upper extremity function. Whether these guidelines have been implemented in practice is unknown. Objective The purposes of this study were: (1) to determine the frequency with which physical therapists use FES to address common therapeutic goals poststroke and (2) to identify the barriers to and facilitators of FES use. Design This was a cross-sectional, survey study. Methods A valid and reliable online survey was sent to Canadian physical therapists. Questions about demographic characteristics, FES use, knowledge of FES literature, and barriers and facilitators were posed. Closed-ended questions were analyzed with descriptive statistics and index scoring to produce summary scores. Pearson or point-biserial correlation coefficients correlated FES use with demographic variables. Open-ended questions about barriers and facilitators were analyzed by 3 researchers using a conventional content analysis. Results Two hundred ninety-eight physical therapists responded. Use of FES for clients with stroke was low for all therapeutic goals queried (improve walking, arm function, muscle strength and endurance, and sensation; prevent shoulder subluxation; and decrease spasticity). However, 52.6% of the respondents stated that they would like to increase their use of FES. More than 40% of the respondents were unsure of the strength of the evidence supporting FES for stroke care. Physical therapists with postgraduate FES training were more likely to use FES (r=.471, P<.001). A lack of access to resources, such as time, equipment, and training, was the most frequently cited barrier to FES use. Limitations As an observational study, cause-and-effect relationships for FES use cannot be identified. Conclusions Functional electrical stimulation is not widely used by physical therapists in stroke rehabilitation. Improving access to resources—in particular, continuing education—may facilitate the implementation of FES into clinical practice.