Electrical muscle stimulation is great for reducing muscle tension and soreness. It helps the muscles relax by giving them a passive massage. It helps to decrease inflammation, pain, tension, and trigger points.
When the treatment is over, the muscles treated are able to relax and loosen up before the chiropractic adjustments.
We typically pair this treatment with an ice pack or hydrocollator pack depending on the patient’s diagnosis.
What is Electrical Muscle Stimulation?
EMS is a targeted rehab treatment which can be used in combination with manual therapy and other rehab activities and therapies. It supports the recovery process by stimulating specific muscles to prevent atrophy and build strength. Electrical muscle stimulation can be applied to help treat pain or recover muscle strength following an injury, surgery, or spasm.
How Does It Work?
When used to maintain or regain muscle strength, EMS works by delivering mild electrical pulses to the targeted muscle group. Chiropractors attach electrodes to the patient’s skin in order to stimulate muscle contraction. The electrical impulses imitate brain signals and the natural way that the body should respond.
To treat pain, electrical stimulation is delivered to targeted nerves. Chiropractors use electrodes to aim the electrical pulses at particular areas of the nervous system to block the transmission of pain signals being sent toward the spine and brain. The stimulation also works to boost the body’s production of endorphins which are natural pain relievers.
Rehabilitation
EMS has also been shown to be an effective way to increase mobility and strength for patients recovering from a serious injury. It can be used as part of a rehab and occupational therapy program. The stimulation helps retrain muscles to respond to the body’s natural signals and build strength by causing repeated contractions. This is beneficial when patients are working to relearn basic motor functions.
Long-Term Care
Patients who have suffered a spinal cord injury or paralysis are able to keep muscles active with this type of electrical stimulation. Additionally, therapists utilize electrical stimulation to help critically ill patients exercise and maintain muscle tone which would otherwise decrease because of lack of use.
Pain Management
Patients living with chronic pain can also benefit from electrical stimulation. This type of therapy utilizes a different wavelength which targets nerves in the body. By blocking the activity of pain receptors sending signals of discomfort to the brain, this drug-free therapy can provide relief.
Athletic Training
Some trainers utilize electrical muscle stimulation to help elite athletes to gain a competitive advantage. It has been applied to assist athletes, in a wide variety of sports, to improve strength, boost performance and increase muscle response.
