Non-Invasive Spinal Electrical Stimulation

NISE-Stim Certification Part1

by Gerti Motavalli

For physical therapists, occulational therapists and other health professionals within the scope of their license or regulation.

Presented by: Gerti Motavalli, MPT
Date:  4 contact hours each day
Saturday February 7, 2026 , Sunday February 8, 2026 

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. EST (New York)
• UK (London): 3:00 – 7:15 p.m.
• Berlin: 4:00 – 8:15 p.m.
• Mumbai: 8:30 p.m. – 12:45 a.m.
• Sydney: 2:00 – 6:15 a.m. (next day) 

Course Location: Live online hands on course through Zoom

Equipment Needed: E-stim unit and electrodes (2x2" and 2x3.5") for hands on portion

Detailed programming instructions will be available for the following units: Chattanooga Continuum, Empi Continuum, Cerfar Rehab X2, TwinStim IV, Beurer EM49. *If using another device, it must have symmetrical biphasic current and you must know how to program it.*

Course Cost: US$ 370

Course Description:

This specialized course is designed for physical therapists and clinicians seeking the most advanced applications of Non-Invasive Spinal Electrical Stimulation (NISE-Stim) to enhance clinical outcomes in children with:

• Cerebral palsy (CP)
• Hypotonia
• Spina bifida
• Spinal cord injuries
• Brachial plexus paralysis
• Other neuromotor impairments

Course Highlights:
✔ Muscle Activation– Learn how NISE-Stim can be used to activate muscles, help them to fire faster and gain strength.
✔ Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) – Discover effective treatment strategies for improving trunk, upper, and lower extremity control.
✔ Muscle & Nerve Testing – Gain expertise in assessing muscle-nerve function and optimizing stimulation parameters.
✔ Hands-On Training & Clinical Videos – Participate in practical sessions and review real case studies to enhance your skills.

This course will provide step-by-step guidance on selecting optimal stimulation settings, refining treatment plans, and advancing therapy techniques for better patient outcomes.

Biography:Gerti Motavalli, PT, MPT

With over 40 years of experience in pediatric physical therapy, Gerti Motavalli, physical therapist, MPT, has worked in Germany, India, and the USA, specializing in pediatric neurological rehabilitation. In collaboration with Dr. Gad Alon, PhD, PT, she developed the first surface spinal electrical stimulation protocol for children with Spina Bifida in 2017, which was published in Child Neurology Open in 2019.

Gerti has presented NISE-Stim at the Spina Bifida World Congress (2023, Tucson, AZ) as well as international conferences in the UK and Germany. Through both in-person and online services, she is committed to expanding global access to NISE-Stim/spinal stimulation therapy for children

Program Objectives:
1. Define the required stimulation parameters, protocols, and procedures used in pediatrics for electrical stimulation. 
2. Analyze the advantages, limitations, contraindications, and indications for electrical stimulation in managing pediatric patients. 
3. Explain the mechanisms by which functional electrical stimulation (FES) and NISE-Stim impact the peripheral neuromuscular, vascular, skeletal, and central nervous systems. 
4. Demonstrate nerve conduction testing procedures and the application of lower spinal stimulation protocols effectively. 
5. Develop functional electrical stimulation protocols for gait training and illustrate electrode placement for upper spinal stimulation in plexus paralysis. 
6. Evaluate patient suitability for NISE-Stim for neuromotor impairments such as spina bifida and implement treatment effectively. 
7. Train caregivers on how to properly use electrical stimulation at home to optimize outcomes.

Continuing Education Units:
This course has been approved for 8 contact hours by the following entities: Redefine Health Education, a recognized approval agency of the Physical Therapy Board of California. Courses approved by other state boards are likely to be accepted for licensure credit in other jurisdictions based on the regulations noted in the left side of this certificate. Please reach out to your state licensing board to confirm. If you have a specific question about your course or certificate, please direct your inquiry to info@redefinehealthed.com.  

"Physical Therapy CEUs -

California: This course is approved by Redefine Health Education, a recognized approval agency of the Physical Therapy Board of California.

Courses approved by other state boards in the following jurisdictions are likely accepted for licensure credit based on the state regulation:

AL | AK | AR | CO | CT | DE | GA | HI | ID | IN | IA | KS | KY | ME | MA | MI | MO | MT | NE | NH | NC | ND | OR | PA | RI | SC | SD | TN | UT | VT | VA | VI | WA | WI | WY

Please reach out to your state licensing board to confirm the currency and accuracy of this information. If you have a specific question about CEU approval for this course in your state, please direct your inquiry to info@redefinehealthed.com.

The following states are not pre-approved: AZ, DC, FL, LA, IL, MD, MN, MS, NM, NV, NY, NJ, OH, OK, TX, WV

Participants licensed in states not pre-approved may file for individual approval using the instructions on this document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uINVSr-O7xE95OLRA5FjLYeAB3BjwxfS/edit
"

                                            

 

 Class Schedule (subject to change)

Day 1
60 min – Electrical Stimulation Technology
Understanding electrical parameters, electrode types, and their applications.

30 min – Hands-On Laboratory I
Exploring sensory vs. muscle activation; twitch vs. sustained contractions.

30 min – Testing the Connection Between Nerve and Muscle
Assessing neuromuscular integrity and responsiveness.

15 min – Break

15 min – Hands-On Practice
Individual electrode placement and fine-tuning stimulation.

30 min – Research Highlights
Key findings from Dr. Alon and Prof. Meyr on spinal stimulation and motor recovery.

60 min – Introduction to NISE-Stim – Lower Extremity
Practical application and individualized setup.

Day 2
30 min – Hands-On Laboratory II
Electrode placements and stimulation settings for lower extremity function.

45 min – NISE-Stim for Trunk and Upper Extremity
Adapting protocols for core and arm involvement.

30 min – Hands-On Laboratory: Trunk and Upper Extremity
Practical session focusing on setup, stimulation, and function.

15 min – Q&A: NISE-Stim Protocols and Practice

15 min – Break

30 min – Introduction to Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)
Understanding the role of FES.

30 min – Hands-On Laboratory: FES
Applying FES for functional movement patterns.

20 min – Comparing E-Stim Units
Pros and cons of various devices used in neurorehabilitation.

30 min – Treatment Insights
Case examples, clinical reasoning, and integration into therapy plans.

10 min – Final Q&A and Wrap-Up

Research:

Motavalli, Gerti, Jan J. McElroy, and Gad Alon. "An exploratory electrical stimulation protocol in the management of an infant with spina bifida: a case report." Child Neurology Open 6 (2019): 2329048X19835656.

Goutam Singh, PT, PhD; Anastasia Keller, PhD; et al.
Safety and Feasibility of Cervical and Thoracic Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation to Improve Hand Motor Function in Children With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury. Neuromodulation 4/2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurom.2023.04.475

Kristin Girshin 1,2, Rahul Sachdeva, et al. Spinal Cord Neuromodulation to treat Cerebral Palsy in Pediatrics: POUNCE Multiside Randomized Clinical Trial 6/2023 Frontiers in Neuroscience, 10.3389/fnins.2023.1221809

James J. Laskin, Zeina Waheed,et al. Spinal Cord Stimulation Research in the Restoration of Motor, Sensory, and Autonomic Function for Individuals Living With Spinal Cord Injuries: A Scoping Review, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2022;103: 1387-97, http://www.archives-pmr.org/

Parag N. Gad, Evgeniy Kreydin, Non-invasive Neuromodulation of Spinal Cord Restores Lower Urinary Tract Function After Paralysis, Frontiers in Neuroscience, doi: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00432

Samejima, S. Caskey, C. D. Inanici, F. Multisite Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation for Walking and        Autonomic Recovery in Motor-Incomplete Tetraplegia: A Single-Subject Design. Phys Ther 2022;102: DOI10.1093/ptj/pzab228.

Anastasia Keller1,2, Goutam Singh 1,2, et al. Noninvasive spinal stimulation safely enables upright posture in children with spinal cord injury NATURE COMMUNICATIONS https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26026-z

Solopova IA, Sukhotina IA, Zhvansky DS, et al. Effects of spinal cord stimulation on motor functions in children with cerebral palsy. Neurosci Lett. 2017;639:192-198.

Krucoff MO, Rahimpour S, Slutzky MW, Edgerton VR, Turner DA. Enhancing Nervous System Recovery through Neurobiologics, Neural Interface Training, and Neurorehabilitation. Front Neurosci. 2016;10:584.

Gerasimenko Y, Gad P, Sayenko D, et al. Integration of sensory, spinal, and volitional descending inputs in regulation of human locomotion. J Neurophysiol. 2016;116(1):98-105.

Lee NG, Andrews E, Rosoklija I, et al. The effect of spinal cord level on sexual function in the spina bifida population. J Pediatr Urol. 2015;11(3):142 e141-146.

Sayenko DG, Atkinson DA, Floyd TC, et al. Effects of paired transcutaneous electrical stimulation delivered at single and dual sites over lumbosacral spinal cord. Neurosci Lett.2015;609:229-234.

Shideler, B.L., et al., Toward a hybrid exoskeleton for crouch gait in children with cerebral palsy: neuromuscular electrical stimulation for improved knee extension. J Neuroeng Rehabil, 2020.