FES has no on/off times.

FES has no on/off times.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not specified
• D. Sometimes

Answer: (A)

Functional electrical stimulation relies on timed bursts of current. The device delivers pulses during defined on-times and remains off during defined off-times, creating a duty cycle that lets the muscle rest and lets the movement be coordinated with the task. This timing is crucial for functional use, such as stimulating the ankle dorsiflexors only during the swing phase of gait and turning the stimulation off during the rest of the cycle. Without on/off timing, stimulation would be continuous, quickly causing fatigue and producing an unnatural, less controllable movement. Therefore, the statement that FES has no on/off times is not correct—the presence of on/off timing is fundamental to how FES works.

Functional electrical stimulation relies on timed bursts of current. The device delivers pulses during defined on-times and remains off during defined off-times, creating a duty cycle that lets the muscle rest and lets the movement be coordinated with the task. This timing is crucial for functional use, such as stimulating the ankle dorsiflexors only during the swing phase of gait and turning the stimulation off during the rest of the cycle. Without on/off timing, stimulation would be continuous, quickly causing fatigue and producing an unnatural, less controllable movement. Therefore, the statement that FES has no on/off times is not correct—the presence of on/off timing is fundamental to how FES works.