It’s Electric! FES-Assisted Coughing in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation

It’s Electric! FES-Assisted Coughing in Spinal Cord Injury RehabilitationDESCRIPTION This webinar will cover Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Assisted Coughing as an intervention to improve cough strength in spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation at all levels of care. We will discuss background information related to respiratory impairments after an SCI as well as review coughing mechanics. We will touch on respiratory assessment, specifically reviewing peak cough flow and then discuss the current body of evidence

DESCRIPTION
This webinar will cover Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)-Assisted Coughing as an intervention to improve cough strength in spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation at all levels of care. We will discuss background information related to respiratory impairments after an SCI as well as review coughing mechanics. We will touch on respiratory assessment, specifically reviewing peak cough flow and then discuss the current body of evidence related to FES-Assisted Coughing and describe a functional coughing protocol synthesized from this literature. This webinar will provide a live demonstration of set up of the FES-Assisted Coughing intervention to facilitate learning and understanding of the intervention protocol. Patient safety and considerations for implementation will be included in multiple case studies. Finally, this webinar will touch on plan of care management and decision making to ensure participants understand the utility of this intervention.

INSTRUCTORS (click on each name below to read faculty bios)
Kelly Harbron, PT, DPT
Brenna Murphy, PT, DPT
Kelly Pantason, PT, DPT
Jonathan Ripic, PT, DPT

LEARNER OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:  

1. Identify respiratory impairments after spinal cord injury (SCI)
2. Analyze the current body of evidence related to Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)-Assisted coughing in SCI
3. Interpret peak-cough-flow values as an assessment of cough strength
4. Describe the clinical application of FES-Assisted coughing in various practice settings
5. Design a plan of care including FES-Assisted coughing for a patient with a SCI

SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION
Participants will watch the on-demand recording in its entirety and complete an assessment and feedback module in the Academy Learning Portal. You will have three months from the date of purchase to complete and review the course material. You will receive a reminder email two weeks before the expiration date. 

AUDIENCE
Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants and Speech-Language Pathologists

CONTINUING EDUCATION
Occupational Therapists:

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval ID #13439. This distance learning independent webinar is offered at .15 CEUs [intermediate, OT service delivery/ Foundational Knowledge]. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

Physical Therapists: This online course has been approved by the Illinois Physical Therapy Board for 1.5 Contact Hours. Approval #216-000069

The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is recognized by California and the New York State Education Department's State Board for Physical Therapy as an approved provider of physical therapy and physical therapist assistant continuing education for 1.5 Contact Hours on 9/10/2025.

Many states accept continuing education contact hours recognized in other states, enabling professionals to use these hours to meet their licensing or certification requirements. Please consult your state regulations to see if this meets CEU requirements for your license.

Speech-Language Pathologists: 

Disclosures: 
Course Directors and Planning Committee Members:
Julie Lenkiewicz, MS, CCC-SLP Has nothing to disclose.
Melissa Kolski, PT, OCS, Dip MDT Has nothing to disclose.
Leslie Marriott, OTR/L Has nothing to disclose.
Selah Bustamante, MSN, RN, CRRN Has nothing to disclose.
Melissa Legreid, MSN, RN, CRRN, NPD-BC Has nothing to disclose.
Speakers, Moderators and Panelists:
Kelly Harbron, PT, DPT Has nothing to disclose.
Brenna Murphy, PT, DPT Has nothing to disclose.
Kelly Pantason, PT, DPT Has nothing to disclose.
Jonathan Ripic, PT, DPT Has nothing to disclose.

ACADEMY POLICIES
For a complete list of Academy policies and technology requirements, click here.