Electrical Stimulation Therapy
Find Fast Pain Relief With Electrical Stimulation
Did You Know Electrical Stimulation Therapy Could Help Relieve Your Pain?
Electrical stimulation therapy may seem daunting, but it is actually a very beneficial way to relieve pain.
Electrical stimulation is a safe and effective method of treatment that can provide pain relief and recovery for several conditions.
A standard electrical stimulation device utilizes self-adhesive electrodes placed around the target treatment area on the body. The electrodes are then connected via wire leads to the unit, through which electricity can pass and ultimately interact with sensory and/or motor nerves.
Are you suffering from a painful injury or condition? If so, electrical stimulation may be the answer. Request an appointment with MedRehab Group Physiotherapy in Ontario today to learn more.
What can I expect from an electrical stimulation session?
One of the biggest reasons electrical stimulation is prescribed is for pain management.
This modality can trigger an innate and completely natural analgesic effect by stimulating specific sensory nerve fibers (including A-beta, A-delta, and C fibers), which both decrease the sensation of pain and release neurotransmitters that prolong the pain-relieving effects.
Electrical stimulation has a variety of other benefits, including:
- Improve motor coordination
- Increase local circulation
- Improve range of motion
- Reduce muscle spasm
- Reduce, eliminate, and/or control pain (both acute and chronic)
- Prevent or reverse muscle atrophy (especially after prolonged immobilization, such as a limb being cast as a fracture heals)
- Provide biofeedback (aka improve body awareness)
- Provide neuromuscular re-education
- Decrease swelling
Electrical stimulation is also safe to use on every area of the body – even the anterior neck, eyes, or over areas with damaged skin or decreased sensation.
However, electrical stimulation is not for everyone. Those with deep vein thrombosis, those who are pregnant, those with pacemakers, and those with impaired cognition would likely be advised against electrical stimulation.
Some of the most common conditions treated with electrical stimulation include:
- Neurological conditions, such as a stroke
- Acute sports-related or auto accident-related injuries
- Muscle strains
- Ligament sprains
- Repetitive stress injuries
Is electrical stimulation painful?
To put it simply – no! In fact, the intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation or sensory nerve stimulation can be easily modified to the tolerance of each patient.
Electrical stimulation contains a variety of different modes to stimulate the nerves in different ways.
These modes all consist of different currents, and the current you are prescribed will be dependent upon the nature of your condition and the severity of it.
The different types of modes include transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), interferential, pre-modulated, Russian, and symmetrical or asymmetrical biphasic.
Some patients report feeling a small sensation, such as a “tingly,” “prickly,” or “pins and needles” feeling.
When used for muscle strengthening, electrical stimulation can sometimes become a bit uncomfortable, but it should never result in pain.
How can I benefit from electrical stimulation therapy?
At our Ontario physiotherapy practice, our main priorities are your comfort, safety, and dignity.
You will undergo a physical examination at your initial appointment, in addition to being asked questions about your current condition and medical history.
From there, one of our licensed physiotherapists will create an individualized treatment plan, based on your specific needs.
If our physiotherapist believes electrical stimulation will be beneficial to you, he or she will explain it in depth, and it will be incorporated into your treatment plan.
During an electrical stimulation treatment, you’ll be asked to sit or lie in a comfortable position, your skin in the target treatment area will be cleaned and prepped, and your PT will guide you step-by-step through the entire treatment.
Find relief for your pain today!
We’ll get you started on the path toward pain relief and recovery!
