| The medical community has made great strides in | | | | toning, and strengthening of the damaged tissue. The |
| developing innovative treatment methods for patients | | | | pulses stimulate the tissue fibers to certain degrees |
| suffering an injury that requires rehabilitation of the | | | | and patterns which decreases muscle degeneration |
| muscle tissues. Injuries can result from a sports related | | | | caused by nerve atrophy. |
| event, an accident that requires the need for physical | | | | Advantages of Using EMS Devices |
| therapy, or an injury resulting from a daily activity. One | | | | Most rehabilitation clinics use EMS devices because of |
| therapeutic treatment that has become popular in | | | | their healing qualities. When using EMS, the repair |
| treating physical injuries is Electrical Muscle Stimulation | | | | process is much faster because nerve and muscle |
| (EMS). | | | | tissue are able to recover more quickly. Stimulation is |
| Electrical muscle stimulation, also referred to as | | | | sufficient to initiate repair of the muscle. When the |
| neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), | | | | muscle tear heals, the patient can continue with the |
| Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), or | | | | next step in the rehabilitation process. Therefore, the |
| electromyostimulation, is used for the prevention of | | | | patient's rehabilitation time is shorter. The method is |
| muscle spasms and muscle atrophy, increasing local | | | | much less painful. It can also be relaxing because much |
| blood circulation by stimulating muscle tissue, | | | | of the pain is alleviated. As well, the relief can last for |
| strengthening the muscle tissue to promote healing, | | | | some time after the session is complete. |
| maintaining or increasing the range of motion, muscle | | | | The FDA mandates that manuals display |
| re-education, and the stimulation of calf muscles to | | | | contraindications, warnings, precautions and adverse |
| prevent venous thrombosis | | | | reactions. This includes: no use for wearers of |
| How EMS Works | | | | pacemakers; no use on critical body parts, such as |
| EMS uses an electrical current to stimulate your | | | | carotid sinus nerves, across the chest, or across the |
| muscles. The electrical pulse stimulates the nerves to | | | | brain; caution in the use during pregnancy, menstruation, |
| generate a natural muscle contraction. This is known | | | | and other conditions that may be affected by muscle |
| as passive exercise. EMS devices produce electrical | | | | contractions. Possible adverse effects can include skin |
| signals that stimulate the nerves. The impulses are | | | | irritations and burns |
| produced by an electrical device and delivered through | | | | More hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, and sport clinics are |
| electrodes placed on the skin near the muscles that | | | | using Electronic Muscle Stimulators, or EMS devices. |
| require stimulation. By placing the pads near a certain | | | | Their use is growing particularly in the athlete |
| group of muscles, and then sending the impulses using | | | | community. The beneficial results have attracted the |
| the EMS device, the muscles will begin to contract and | | | | attention of many in the medical community. General |
| relax. The impulses imitate the impulses produced by | | | | Practitioners are now seeing the benefits of using |
| the brain to stimulate muscle tissue. The contractions | | | | EMS on their patients. EMS devices can also be found |
| that results from stimulation are much like muscle | | | | in gyms and in homes to help people recover quicker |
| contractions during regular exercise. The voltage for | | | | from a muscle injury. .Most people who have received |
| different pressure points on the muscle can be | | | | EMS treatment find the process constructive and |
| adjusted according to need. The result of stimulation is | | | | comforting. Because it speeds up the rehabilitation |
| the repairing and strengthening of muscles. | | | | process, patients will find themselves saving money. |
| EMS devices help stimulate muscle tissue that may | | | | Electronic muscle stimulators are a great way to |
| not be affected by regular exercise routines. They will | | | | encourage muscle healing, control pain, and strengthen |
| stimulate damaged muscle tissues resulting in restoring, | | | | the muscles. |