Lu Fendig feels stimulation in her hand after trying the NESS H200 at Pinecrest Rehabilitation Hospital in Delray Beach. Occupational therapist Karina Rocha-Souza looks on after tweaking a small computer module with Fendig's personal settings.

In May, Lu Fendig came to the Pinecrest Rehabilitation Hospital at Delray Medical Center, 5352 Linton Blvd., in hopes that a new device from Bioness Inc. would help mobility in her right leg that wasn’t functioning properly after a lesion affected normal leg function. She made the day-long driving trip from Brunswick, Ga., to try out the NESS L300, and after a month renting the rehabilitation system that resembles a gray and blue knee brace, she said her walking has improved.

“I used to drag my foot and constantly stub my toe. I’m happy to be past that phase of my life,” Fendig said.

Because her left hand and arm was also not functioning properly, Fendig felt another drive to South Florida could be life changing and beneficial. So last week she returned to try the NESS H200 Hand Rehabilitation System, a functional electrical stimulation system that sends low-level stimulation to the paralyzed muscles in an arm or hand, helping to open and close the hand.

“It takes time and you have to work with a therapist to break old habits. One thing I can tell you is after two months of using the device I was able to walk more confidently, and even walk up and down stairs. These were functions I couldn’t perform in May,” Fendig said.

Fendig said the hand device helped her to “grasp and release objects” and “it was very relaxing in turn making my arm feel great while only using the device for a few minutes.”

Cost of either the NESS H200, or NESS L300 is $6,200, or devices can be rented for $500 for the first month trial good toward the purchase price.

For more information on Bioness Inc. Rehabilitation Systems call Keith Reeber at 800-211-9136 or 954-935-9354 or by e-mail at keith.reeber@bioness.com. For Pinecrest Rehabilitation Hospital call 561-495-3024.