Introduction to E-Stim in Paediatrics

Overview

Electrical stimulation is gaining attention in pediatrics for its benefits in treating various conditions by stimulating nerves and muscles. It helps improve muscle strength, reduce spasticity, and enhance motor skills in neuromuscular disorders, aids pain relief and accelerates healing in orthopedic conditions, and promotes faster recovery post-surgery. Benefits to children include non-invasive treatment, pain management, improved mobility and strength, and enhanced neuroplasticity.

For families, electrical stimulation reduces caregiving burden, is cost-effective, allows home use, and offers emotional benefits. Challenges include accessibility, cost, and the need for proper training and individualized approaches.

Overall, electrical stimulation shows promise in improving pediatric therapy and family quality of life, with ongoing advancements enhancing its efficacy and accessibility.

Although electrical stimulation is commonly covered in degree programs focusing on adult populations, its application in pediatrics involves unique considerations and approaches.

Children's anatomical, physiological, and developmental differences necessitate tailored protocols to ensure safety and effectiveness. For instance, the intensity, duration, and frequency of electrical stimulation might need adjustment based on a child's size and developmental stage. Additionally, the goals of therapy often differ, focusing more on functional development, growth, and play. Therefore, physiotherapists must be well-informed and confident in adapting these techniques for children. This requires specialized training and a deep understanding of pediatric conditions, developmental milestones, and the specific needs of children to effectively integrate electrical stimulation into their therapeutic practices.

Presenter: Dr. Kristin Musselman 

Dr. Kristin Musselman is a physical therapist, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto, Scientist with the Neural Engineering and Therapeutics Team at KITE, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – Lyndhurst Centre, and Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Multi-morbidity and Complex Rehabilitation. She completed a BSc (Life Sciences) and BScPT at Queen’s University, followed by a MSc (Neurosciences) and PhD (Rehabilitation Science) at the University of Alberta.

Dr. Musselman was a CIHR Post-doctoral Fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Kennedy Krieger Institute from 2010-2013. She is academic lead of the Canadian SCI Walking Measures Group and Chair of the Canadian ABT Community of Practice for the Praxis Spinal Cord Institute.