Electric Stimulation
What are the benefits of electric muscle stimulation?
- Increases range of motion in tight muscles and/or tendons
- Reduces joint pain and swelling
- Reduces stress, discomfort, and muscle spasms
- Improves blood flow and circulation
- Prevents and reverses a loss of muscle mass
- Restores muscle tone
STIM uses a very mild electrical current to stimulate specific muscles to cause a desired change in those muscles, generally relaxing tight muscles or strengthening weak ones. The therapy starts with us sticking electrode pads on your skin over the targeted muscles. Then an outside electrical source passes a minimal current through the electrode pads that will transmit the current through your skin to the nerves, which will stimulate your muscles. Each patient’s experience differs, but most patients describe a relaxing tingling during the treatment. It is also common for some patients to report feeling slight pins and needles, muscle twitching, and/or a sensation like a massage during the treatment. . While it may feel a little strange initially, it should never hurt. Most patients love this therapy but if anything out of the ordinary occurs, let us know promptly.
With that said, there are some people who should not use electric muscle stimulation:
- Implanted electronic devices like pacemakers, defibrillators, or neurostimulators (unless the device manufacturer states that it is safe)
- Epilepsy
- Thrombosis
- Hemorrhage
- Cancer
- Heart problems
- Pregnant women
