Electrical Stimulation Could Ease Your Daily Discomfort
Are you looking for pain relief? Electrical stimulation might be your saving grace!
Have you been suffering from chronic pain as a result of an injury or illness? If this is the case, electrical stimulation may be the solution to your pain issues.
Electrical stimulation is a pain relief and rehabilitation therapy option that is both safe and effective. While it may appear intimidating at first, it is a very effective way of pain management that many our physical therapists in Ahwatukee, Biltmore and Tempe, AZ utilize on a daily basis!
What can I expect with electrical stimulation treatments?
Electrical stimulation is a typical pain management therapy prescribed by physical therapists.
This modality can provide an intrinsic and completely natural analgesic effect by stimulating certain sensory nerve fibers (such as A-beta, A-delta, and C fibers), which lower pain sensitivity and release neurotransmitters that prolong relief.
Electrical stimulation has a variety of other benefits, including:
- Provide neuromuscular re-education
- Decrease swelling
- Increase local circulation
- 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)
- Reduce muscle spasm
- Improve motor coordination
- Improve range of motion
Electrical stimulation is not recommended for people with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), those who are pregnant, those with pacemakers, and those with impaired comprehension.
Some of the most common conditions treated with electrical stimulation include:
- Neurological conditions, such as a stroke
- Ligament sprains
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Acute sports-related or auto accident-related injuries
- Muscle strains
Is electrical stimulation painful?
Absolutely not! When used for muscular enhancement, electrical stimulation might be a little unpleasant at times, but it should never cause pain. Electrical stimulation encompasses a wide range of methods for stimulating the nerves.
A physical therapist may simply change the frequency of electrical muscle stimulation or sensory nerve stimulation to each patient’s tolerance.
You will be asked to sit or lie in a comfortable posture during your electrical stimulation (E-stim) treatment. Our physical therapist will clean and prepare your skin in the target treatment region before guiding you through the full procedure step by step.
Self-adhesive electrodes are put on the body around the targeted treatment region in a typical E-stim session.
The electrodes are then linked to a device through wire connections, allowing electricity to travel through and eventually communicate with sensory and/or motor neurons.
Among the different modes are transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), interruption, pre-modulated, Russian, and symmetrical or asymmetrical bi-phasic.
Each of these modes has its own current, and the current and E-stim style you receive will be determined by the nature and severity of your condition.
Mild discomfort, such as a “tingly,” “prickly,” or “pins and needles” sensation, is experienced by some individuals.
Could I benefit from this treatment?
Our ultimate purpose is your comfort, safety, and excellent care.
If your physical therapist believes that electrical stimulation could help you, he or she will explain it thoroughly and include it into your therapy plan.
Our physical therapist will complete a physical examination at your initial consultation, in addition to asking questions about your present condition and medical history.
Based on your specific needs, one of our highly trained physical therapists in Ahwatukee, Biltmore or Tempe, AZ will create a personalized treatment plan for you that may include electrical stimulation therapy.
Discover the benefits of electrical stimulation today
If you are interested in learning more about electrical stimulation, or if you think it might benefit you, please click here to request an appointment. Our physical therapists can get you started on the path to pain relief and recovery!