4. Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation or neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is a muscle contraction technique with the use of electrical impulses. A number of treatments are using electrical impulses to block the pain messages or the mixed signals sent by the damaged nerves. Electrodes are controlled by a unit are to be placed on the skin over a specific area. Including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Electrical current is sent from the unit to the electrodes and delivered into the muscle which will cause muscle contraction. They are noninvasive and usually are painless. Complex electrical stimulation are those that require surgery depending on the condition and/or stimulation needed by the patient.
There are various forms of electrical stimulation or so-called “electrotherapy” listed below that are being used to serve its many purposes in the scale of decreasing pain and inflammation to improving function and strength.
- NMES (Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation)
- EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation)
- FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation)
- TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)
- ETS (EMG Triggered Stimulation)
- RETS (Reciprocal EMG Triggered Stimulation)