Neuromuscular
electrical stimulation (NMES) devices have been around for some time and used on
everyone from professional athletes to your hometown high school’s leading
scorers. These discreet, portable devices are meant to rehabilitate muscles
following injury, or enhance muscle performance, via tiny electrical impulses
transmitted directly through the skin. Electrical stimulation has been shown to
improve muscle contraction and increase blood flow.
At
Texas Orthopedics, we often recommend electrical stimulation to reactivate the quadriceps
muscles after ACL repair surgery.
Sometimes it is also helpful for rehabilitation of the neck or shoulder muscles
as well. Benefits of electrical muscle stimulation include:
- Faster recovery times when coupled with a regular physical rehabilitation program
- Decreased muscle atrophy frequently accompanying a serious injury, or after surgery
- Less muscle pain and soreness leading to improved mobility and range of motion
While
it may be tempting to purchase and administer use of one of these popular
devices on your own, it is best to consult with your board-certified orthopedic
surgeon or physical therapist before doing so. If the electrical currents are
not carefully monitored, further tissue damage can easily occur...unfortunately
setting back your recovery time that you initially sought to speed up.
If
you have questions about whether an electrical stimulation device is right for
you, please contact us for an appointment.
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