Muscle Stimulation Machine — Usage and Benefits

Muscle stimulation machine involves a protocol called Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS), which helps in evoking a muscle contraction using electrical impulses to directly stimulate the motor neurons. Let’s find out in detail, what exactly is Electric Stimulation.

What is Electric Stimulation?

Electric Stimulation, also known as E-Stim stimulates muscles to get it working through muscle stimulation machines. The process of Electric stimulation causes repeated muscle contractions, gets the blood flowing, resulting in repairing the injured muscles.

Electric stimulation also focuses on improving muscle strength with repeated cycles of contraction and relaxation. It also trains muscles to respond to the body’s natural signals, this is helpful for stroke survivors who are relearning the basic motor functions.

Another type of E-stim focuses on pain relief, it sends signals on a different wavelength in order to reach nerves rather than the muscles. This process blocks pain receptors from being sent from nerves to the brain.

Types of Muscle Stimulation

There are two main types of electronic stimulation and they are:

TENS

TENS i.e Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation can be used for both chronic (long-term) pain as well as acute (short-term) pain. Electrodes in the TENS machine sends signals through nerve fibers which block or lessens the pain signals traveling to the brain.

EMS

EMS is a slightly stronger current stimulator as compared to TENS. The unit’s electrodes create rhythmic contractions. The process helps improve muscle strength with attempts of contracting muscle simultaneously.

How does Electric Stimulation Work?

Stimulator machine comes with stick-on pieces and a control unit. The control unit consists of the timer, sensory knobs, and other such operative features to produce an electric current. The pieces are attached to the skin over targeted muscle groups to transmit currents by using the control unit. The tools that are attached to the skin to transmit currents are two lead wires and two to four neurostimulation electrodes. The muscle stimulator machine causes several unique sensations while applied to a specific muscle group.

Pulses are focused to block the transmission of pain signals from reaching the spinal cord and brain. These pulses also stimulate the body and help produce more natural pain-relieving chemicals known as endorphins.

What can be expected during the E-Stim process

The sensations usually feel dull tingling and feel like pins and needles on the skin

You may even feel your muscle contract or twitch repeatedly depending on the type of e-stim

E-stim therapy sessions may last 5–15 minutes long, depending on the condition.

Benefits of using Electric Stimulation

It helps in improving joint pain and swelling

Prevents muscle wither

The process helps with the rehabilitation of muscles

Increases the series of motion for tendons and tense muscles

Helps improve blood circulation in the body

Helps in reducing stress and discomfort in the body

Electric stimulation is adapted globally, but it is still considered an alternative therapy and some health experts do get sceptical of its long-term effectiveness. However, e-stim is known to be the most effective when it comes to working towards weakened or atrophied muscles and post-surgery muscle healing.

Alternatives to E-stim

Whereas e-stim can be an effective tool in rehabilitation and physical therapy, it is only one of many strategies used by physical therapists, orthopedists, and sports medicine physicians.

The alternative to E-stim include:

Stretching and flexibility exercises

Massage

Ice and heat treatments

Range-of-motion exercises

Muscle-strengthening exercises

Strengthening exercises using machines, resistance bands, and weights

In Summary

E-stim treatments are considered as a standard part of physical therapy for different physical conditions. However, it is not a prescribed form of therapy yet it is recommended to consult the doctor first in cases like heart disease or pregnancy. It is best to share the medical history and supplements you take with your doctor before approaching any sort of treatment on your own. Before starting E-stimulation you must talk to your doctor about your options for muscle pain conditioning or pain relief.