Benefits of Electrical Stimulation Therapies for Recovery

If you are nursing an injury, your healthcare provider may recommend physical therapy to help with recovery. Pain from an injury can make it hard to move around. Physical therapy using various modalities can help reduce pain.

These modalities include electrical stimulation (e-stim). E-stim involves the use of electrical currents to block pain signals. It strengthens muscles and improves blood circulation.

Electrical Stimulation Therapy

Healthcare providers use e-stim as part of a patient’s rehabilitation program. Therapists recommend therapy for patients experiencing pain, spasms, muscle weakness, or inflammation. It can help treat various health conditions such as back pain, poor motor control, tendonitis, bursitis, and postsurgical pain.

The therapy can also help deal with stubborn wounds.

Benefits of Electrical Stimulation

Physical therapists recommend e-stim for various reasons. The benefits of the therapy include the following:
 

• It helps reduce inflammation
   

• It stimulates nerves and muscles to reduce pain or spasms
   

• It helps strengthen muscles that do not function well
   

• It is nonsurgical and noninvasive
   

• It helps boost blood circulation, which is vital for recovery

Therapists may recommend e-stim devices for use at home. It is crucial to ensure you use the battery-powered unit as instructed.

During Electrical Stimulation Therapy

E-stim therapy involves the application of electrodes to the body part that requires treatment. A wire connects the electrodes to an e-stim machine. Patients experience a slight tingling sensation during treatment.

Therapists increase the sensation until it is strong but comfortable. If the treatment is for pain relief or muscle spasms, patients remain still or relaxed. Patients need to contract or squeeze their muscles during treatment to improve muscle strength. The electrical impulses may feel a bit uncomfortable, but they should never hurt.

Types of Electrical Stimulation

Chiropractors use various types of electrical stimulation for different treatments. E-stim types include the following:
 

• Transcutaneous Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation (TENS)
   

• Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)
   

• It helps induce medication in the body
   

• Interferential Current (IFC)
   

• Russian Stimulation
   

• Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)
   

• High-Voltage Galvanic Current (HVGC)

Most types of electrical stimulation are passive. Some, such as Russian and NMES, need active patient participation. Health practitioners use e-stim alongside other treatment techniques.

You can find out if you can benefit from electrical stimulation. E-stim is usually part of a comprehensive rehab program. People with fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions can experience relief after e-stim. The duration of treatment will depend on the patient’s condition.

For more information on the benefits of electrical stimulation therapies, visit Hollern Chiropractic Spine and Disc. Our office is in Louisville, Kentucky. Call (502) 366-9200 to schedule an appointment today.