Electrical muscle stimulation is a therapeutic technique designed to speed the recovery process while providing relief from pain. It can also be used to improve strength and athletic performance. For many patients, electrical muscle stimulation provides many benefits when incorporated into a recovery regimen.
How Does Electrical Muscle Stimulation Work?
In electrical muscle stimulation treatment, electrodes are positioned on the skin close to the injured area. Through these electrodes, gentle electrical pulses are delivered through the skin to the injured muscles and nerves. These pulses travel through nerve fibers to reduce or fully inhibit the pain signals going to the brain.
Electrical muscle stimulation also delivers signals to the muscles in the treatment area, leading them to contract. This causes multiple muscle contractions, which boosts circulation to the injured tissues. The repeated muscle contractions caused by electrical muscle stimulation also help strengthen injured muscles during the recovery process.
Who Should Consider Electrical Muscle Stimulation?
Electrical muscle stimulation can be used to aid in both chronic and acute pain. Chronic pain conditions that may be helped with electrical muscle stimulation include arthritis, sciatica, fibromyalgia, and degenerative disc disease. Acute injuries that may benefit from electrical muscle stimulation include sprains, strains, tendonitis, contusions, and bursitis, among others.
While electrical muscle stimulation can help many patients manage symptoms from injuries and chronic pain conditions, it’s not the right choice for everyone. For example, patients with underlying heart conditions may not be good candidates for electrical muscle stimulation.
Can Electrical Muscle Stimulation Be Combined With Other Treatments?
Electrical muscle stimulation is commonly paired with other treatments to create a well-rounded recovery plan. Here at the Florida Spine & Injury Institute of Lakeland, we offer a range of therapeutic services for injuries and chronic pain conditions. In addition to electrical muscle stimulation, we provide chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercises, among other treatments to help you achieve lasting relief from pain.
