According to the National Strength and Conditioning Association, electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) focuses on your muscle strength, mobility, and well-being. In healthy individuals, it improves muscle tone and reduces body fat. For those who have certain health problems, EMS activates the motor neuron. This leads to the treating and prevention of muscle degeneration. If you want to understand the health conditions that electrical muscle stimulation treats, here’s what you should know.
Stroke
If you just experienced a nerve injury such as a stroke, it is common for you to have general muscle weakness and immobility. This impairs your ability to accomplish your ADLs (activities of daily living). It even causes pain and loss of feeling. ESM triggers muscle contraction, which enables a joint to move. After each session, your ROM (range of motion) improves, your muscle stiffness decreases, and you become stronger.
Acute Pain
According to the International Association for the Study of Pain, the pain has a psychological, emotional, and physical impact on those who experience it. Decades ago, all it took to eliminate pain was to give pain relievers. Since there is a global awareness of opioid addiction, patients are now becoming apprehensive in taking opioids and pain medications in general. They seek a non-pharmaceutical way to achieve relief. This may be a strong reason for you to seek EMS treatments from your physical therapist and chiropractor. Electrical muscle stimulation tells your brain to release endorphins, which are your body’s built-in pain relievers.
Cerebral Palsy
EMS can help with painful, under-toned, and often uncontrollable movements if your child has cerebral palsy. If your child is having extreme difficulty in walking, EMS in the form of FES (functional electrical stimulation) can help. FES uses pulses of electricity to vitalize your child’s muscles. It will then enhance your kid’s walking speed, foot positioning, and muscle strength.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Research shows that if you have MS, your walking will improve with the help of electrical muscle stimulation. You can even continue to use EMS in your home for years to come because there is always a possibility of relapsing or having persistent MS symptoms.
With consistent sessions, electrical muscle stimulation can help these medical conditions. At Hometown Chiropractic, we always aim to help our patients achieve a better quality of life. Please visit our clinic in Davenport, Iowa, for an in-person consultation. You can also call us at 563-200-9188. That way, we can help set your appointment or answer your questions about our EMS treatment packages.
References:
https://www.physio.co.uk/treatments/electrotherapy/electrical-muscle-stimulation-ems.php
https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Abstract/2002/05000/Effects_of_Electrical_Muscle_Stimulation_on_Body.1.aspx