Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is one of the most challenging situations in spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Unlike injuries higher in the spine, CES directly damages the lower motor neurons—the nerve cells that connect to and control the leg muscles. This results in the muscles becoming denervated, losing their nerve supply completely.

For many years, people with CES were told little could be done about the muscle wasting that occurs. The common belief was that denervated muscles would inevitably weaken, and electrical stimulation—which is effective for higher spinal injuries—simply wouldn't help. That perspective has shifted.

Research over the past twenty years shows that denervated muscles can be preserved and even improved with appropriate electrical stimulation—however, it requires a different approach from standard rehabilitation methods. In this article, I will explain what happens to muscles after cauda equina syndrome, why conventional methods often fail, and what options are available for maintaining long-term muscle and tissue health.

If you've determined that you need electrical stimulation for denervated muscles, the next question is obvious: which device should you choose? This is where many people become confused — and understandably so. The market is flooded with electrical stimulation devices, most of which cannot help denervated muscles, and the technical specifications can be bewildering even for clinicians, let alone someone navigating this for the first time after a life-changing injury.

In my experience, the confusion isn't really about the number of options. It's about how devices that look similar on the outside — a box, some wires, a pair of electrodes — can be fundamentally different on the inside. A TENS unit from a pharmacy or bought online, and a specialised denervated muscle stimulator may appear related, but they are designed for entirely different physiological purposes. Choosing the wrong one isn't just a waste of money; it means lost time during a period when early intervention matters most.

In this article, I'll explain what features actually matter for denervated muscle stimulation, why most devices on the market are unsuitable, and how to evaluate your options

Muscle loss doesn’t wait and neither should prevention. This article explains how proactive FES can support early muscle activation, helping reduce atrophy during periods of limited mobility. Learn why starting sooner can make a difference, who it may be suitable for, and how FES fits into a broader rehabilitation plan.

This article explores how the timing and intensity of home-based Functional Electrical Stimulation (hbFES) can affect recovery after complete denervation injury. It looks at how stimulation parameters may influence the structural recovery of lower motor neurons and muscle fibres, and why starting early and using the right dose of stimulation could be important for outcomes. The article summarises key findings and practical considerations, offering insight for clinicians and individuals interested in evidence-based hbFES use.

In this article we look at how we deal with enquiries about the RISE Stimulator. This product is used to treat muscle denervation using a unique electrical stimulation device. Clients may have experienced a spinal cord injury affecting the lower motor neuorons or they may have a peripheral nerve injury.

In all cases, all parties need to know whether the product is likely to be safe and effective to use. Here we look at an ideal situation where complete information is available.

Consider this scenario: You're curious about the RISE Stimulator because you've heard it's effective for treating denervated muscles and you want to learn more.

It's evening, our office is closed, and you don't feel like sifting through numerous web pages to find the information you need. Would you trust a chatbot to provide the answers you're looking for?

Try out our chat bot and let us know what you think