Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

For many types of injuries the road to recovery can be challenging and at times frustrating. Too many times patients have to rely on prescription medications to relieve pain or restore some form of functionality. It is only but natural for patients to be eager in order to begin feeling better and get back to their normal daily routine and favorite activities. As chiropractors it is our duty to help guide patients to a full and complete recovery. There are many ways by which we can help you reach your rehabilitation goals as soon as possible through a number of different methods. One of the methods used in chiropractic care is neuromuscular electrical stimulation.

What is Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation?

At East Bank Wellness our chiropractors use neuromuscular electrical stimulation to help heal the body and restore or enhance normal functioning. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation is a kind of treatment in chiropractic care that uses electrical impulses generated by a machine that travel via the electrodes placed on the skin of the patient and then into their muscles. In essence, NMES uses short bursts of electrical impulses to generate muscle contractions. Strategic adjustments will change how powerful the contraction is. With this approach we will be able to increase blood flow to a target region in order to reduce spasms and encourage the process of healing and recovery. This method is just one of the available therapy modalities in the chiropractor’s arsenal to achieve the best therapeutic effect for the patient. Depending on your condition we shall use is either as a stand-alone treatment or in combination with others at our disposal.
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How Does NMES Work?

If used for the purpose of regaining or maintaining muscle strength, neuromuscular electrical stimulation works through the delivery of mild electrical impulses targeted to a specific group of muscles. Once the electrodes are connected to the skin to stimulate muscle contraction it then imitates brain signals and the natural way for which the body would respond. We can use this to reduce pain by delivery of the electrical impulses to targeted nerve groups. This is done by aiming the electrical impulses at certain areas of the nervous system so as to block the transmission of pain signals sent toward the spine and brain. This stimulation also works to encourage the production of endorphins which are powerful neurotransmitters that act as natural pain relievers.

With East Bank Wellness Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation You Get:

Physiotherapy

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation may be used to help patients on physiotherapy in order to encourage the reactivation of the muscle response after injury or major surgery. It is very effective to immensely strengthen the quadriceps muscles after ACL reconstruction surgery. We can incorporate a program using targeted exercises with NMES for a quicker recovery.

Rehabilitation

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation is one of the most effective means of increasing mobility and strength for patients that are recovering from a serious injury. The stimulation helps retain muscle strength as it responds to the natural signals of the body and builds strength from the repeated contractions. This procedure is especially beneficial for patients looking to relearn lost basic motor functions.

Long Term Care

For patients that have suffered serious spinal cord injury, they can benefit immensely from neuromuscular electrical stimulation. NMES uses a different wavelength that can target different nerves that cause pain in the body. Through the blocking of specific pain receptors, the sending of signals of discomfort from the brain can provide relief without having to rely solely on prescription medications.

Improved Athletic Performance

We can assist athletes to gain a competitive advantage in a wide variety of sports in order to improve strength, enhance performance and increase muscle response.

In chiropractic care here are some of the conditions that can benefit from neuromuscular electrical stimulation and in conjunction with similar others:

• Spinal cord injury
• Muscle weakness and atrophy
• Nerve inflammation
• Loss of motor skills
• Bursitis
• Tendonitis
• Muscle injury secondary to surgery or trauma
• Cerebrovascular accident
• Difficulty of swallowing known as dysphagia
• Chronic or severe back pain
• Arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• ​​​​​​​Post-surgical pain

What to Expect during Treatment

For your neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy, the duration of treatment lasts somewhere between 9-15 minutes and at this time you can expect to feel a tingling sensation and also experience some repetitive tensing of the muscles. You should feel no pain while undergoing the procedure.
During the process, our chiropractor will place small electrodes on the skin. The sticky electrode pads are placed in areas that will be targeted with stimulation. Wires attach the pads to the NMES machine that delivers the needed electrical current.


For Muscle Treatment – Our chiropractor will control the intensity of the electrical current which normally begins with low level stimulation and gradually increasing. You should see your muscles contract with increasing intensity. We shall ask you to perform a particular motion as the pulses are being introduced.


For Nerve Treatment – During therapy sessions to relieve spasms and pain, we are encouraging to relax during the treatment session.
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​​​​​​​Exemplary Chiropractic Care at East Bank Wellness

No matter what kind of problem you have or degree of severity we are quite confident we can be of service to you. Let East Bank Wellness assist in your recovery. Call or visit us today.