restorative-therapies.com A conversation with Laurie Magerfleisch, PT, DPT and Colleen Connaughton, PT, DPT of Restorative Therapies, joined by Dr. Ian James Brown, M.D., an Air Force veteran and RT300 user, on what integrated functional electrical stimulation (FES) looks like across the clinic and at home, hosted by John McAleavey for NASCIC.
For people living with a spinal cord injury, the question of what comes after formal rehab ends is often the hardest one. Initial therapy may stretch for weeks or months, and then the work of long-term recovery shifts to the home, the community, and the daily routine. In this episode, host John McAleavey sits down with the Restorative Therapies clinical team and a veteran RT300 user to talk about what sustained recovery looks like when integrated functional electrical stimulation (FES) is part of the picture.
Senior Clinical Educator Laurie Magerfleisch, PT, DPT and Clinical Educator Colleen Connaughton, PT, DPT walk through how patterned stimulation interacts with spasticity, why repetitive contraction matters for muscle health and circulation, and how the RT300 and Xcite2 systems are used in clinics and homes across more than a thousand sites worldwide. They are joined by Dr. Ian James Brown, M.D., a U.S. Air Force veteran and physician who shares the part of his recovery that does not show up in clinical trials, what muscle activation through FES felt like the first time, what consistent home use has changed about his routine, and what he wants other veterans to hear.
This is a working clinician and lived-experience conversation, not a clinical lecture. The goal is a clearer picture of how FES therapy can support the long arc of recovery beyond discharge.
Veteran, U.S. Air Force, RT300 Champion
Dr. Ian James Brown is a decorated U.S. Air Force veteran, physician, and national advocate for individuals with disabilities. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy with degrees in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, he served as a developmental engineer and pilot before earning his M.D. from Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. He has contributed to spinal cord injury research through the Department of Defense's Spinal Cord Injury Research Program and has co-authored studies on ketamine, PTSD, and stem cell therapies.
Beyond clinical practice, he designs custom high-performance wheelchairs as Vice President of Lasher Sport, Inc., and serves in national advocacy roles with the Kessler Foundation, Accessible Racing, and the Abilities Expo. In this episode he shares his personal experience with the RT300 and what consistent home FES use has changed for him.
PT, DPT
Laurie Magerfleisch, PT, DPT is a Senior Clinical Educator at Restorative Therapies, specializing in clinical education and supporting clinicians, researchers, and home users. In her role she works closely with clinicians and patients internationally, providing on-site and remote education and support founded in evidence-based research and best practices. She has also presented alongside prominent researchers at neurorehabilitation and critical care conferences. Laurie focuses on advancing best practices in the use of integrated FES systems across diverse patient populations.
PT, DPT
Colleen Connaughton, PT, DPT is a Clinical Educator at Restorative Therapies with over two decades of experience in physical therapy and a strong commitment to advancing neurological rehabilitation. Her work in evidence-based care led her to specialize in functional electrical stimulation (FES) and activity-based therapy (ABT). She supports patients and clinicians domestically and internationally, develops and teaches educational content, contributes to research and development, and provides support for home customers and advocacy work.
John McAleavey is a 33-year spinal cord injury survivor and the founder and host of The QuadCast Podcast. While The QuadCast is mainly for and about people whose lives have been affected by spinal cord injury, it is really for anyone who wants to be inspired. John brings a conversational, accessible approach to every interview, prioritizing clarity and real-world relevance over jargon. He has previously hosted NASCIC sponsored conversations with leaders across the SCI space. You can also watch his episodes on YouTube.
The window for meaningful gains after SCI is far longer than acute rehab timelines suggest. Sustained therapy, both in the clinic and at home, is part of long-term health.
Integrated, patterned functional electrical stimulation coordinates muscle groups in physiologic sequences, which is part of why it can affect spasticity and contraction quality differently than simple e-stim.
Automatic Spasm Management on the RT300 is designed to detect and respond to spasms during a session, helping users stay productive instead of stopping every time tone fires up.
Moving from a few clinic visits a week to daily access at home shifts what is achievable. Dr. Brown talks about what that change looked like in his own routine.
Dr. Brown is a U.S. Air Force veteran. Restorative Therapies also runs an exclusive Veterans Program, and the discussion includes how veterans have engaged with FES over the long term.
Laurie and Colleen bring decades of physical therapy practice and direct support of clinicians and home users worldwide, grounded in evidence-based education.
Hosted by John McAleavey for NASCIC. About 50 minutes.
Restorative Therapies, Inc. is a global leader in integrated functional electrical stimulation (FES) technology. The company partners with clinicians, health systems, VA medical centers, and families worldwide to advance neurorehabilitation and long-term recovery for people living with neurological impairments.
Their mission is to help people with a neurological impairment or critical illness reach their full recovery potential by providing activity-based, integrated FES therapy solutions for use in both clinics and at home. Their systems are used to help address spasticity, muscle atrophy, circulatory health, functional mobility, and cardiovascular conditioning.
Learn more about Restorative Therapies at restorative-therapies.com. Veterans can learn about the dedicated Veterans Program at restorative-therapies.com/veterans. Visit the joint NASCIC + Restorative Therapies resource center on RT's website.
A multi-channel FES cycle ergometry system used for upper extremity, lower extremity, and full-body rehabilitation. Designed for clinic and home use, the RT300 supports cardiovascular conditioning, muscle re-education, and functional recovery.
A customizable, multi-channel FES system designed for task-specific, activity-based rehabilitation. Xcite2 enables therapists to create functional movement patterns that mirror real-life activities and goals, and pairs with the RT300 for combined programming.
This educational podcast episode is produced as part of a sponsorship partnership between Restorative Therapies and the North American Spinal Cord Injury Consortium (NASCIC). The views and clinical experiences shared by the guests are their own. NASCIC provides this content as an educational resource for the SCI community and does not endorse any specific commercial product or medical device. The RT300 and Xcite2 systems are FDA-cleared for use in the United States. Individuals should consult their healthcare provider to determine whether a therapy is appropriate for their situation.
Visit Restorative Therapies for clinic and home FES therapy options, or read more from the NASCIC blog.
