The pain of muscles and nerves, alongside mobility concerns, affects millions of people around the world, often causing limitations in daily activities. These limitations not only impact someone's ability to do their job, but can ultimately affect a person's overall quality of life. Whether you are recovering from an injury, dealing with a long-term or chronic condition, or simply dealing with the daily aches of life, your search for effective, reliable and non-invasive methods of pain relief is vital. The past two years have seen a resurgence in the use of electrotherapy, not only in the physical rehabilitation profession, but also extensively in the Pain management profession.
Electrotherapy is the use of controlled electrical impulses to manipulate nerve and muscle tissue therapeutically. Electro, in one form or another, is used and practised by physical therapists, chiropractic physicians and sports medicine professionals to promote healing, control pain, and help improve physical functions. The application of electrotherapy has improved in recent years with advances in technology, which afford healthcare professionals more precision, comfort, variety and overall increased effectiveness. In this blog, we will discuss the science of Electrotherapy Benefits and how it works, the common conditions treated by electrotherapy, and who could benefit from using electrotherapy.
Electrotherapy is primarily used for producing muscle strength in the settings of sport and rehabilitation. EMS serves to contract muscles in a controlled manner and is valuable for the individual rehabilitating an injury, recovering from surgery, or experiencing muscle atrophy. The electrotherapy contracts the muscle by mimicking the body’s normal muscle contractions and can help maintain muscle mass and strength when voluntary movement is diminished.
Muscles require time for recovery after heavy periods of activity. Electrotherapy may enhance blood flow to a targeted area, clearing modalities such as lactic acid, while also exchanging fresh oxygen and nutrients. It may assist with alleviating soreness and enhancing recovery following workouts or physical activities.
When someone has a stroke, injury, or undergoes surgery, they may lose the ability to voluntarily contract muscles. EMS can "re-train" the muscles of the body and brain connection by providing artificial electrical stimulation to contract the muscles to enable movement and coordination over time.
TENS therapy is likely the most common form of electrotherapy as a pain control modality. It uses electrical nerve stimulation to provide the effect of "blocking" pain by interfering with the actual nerve signals that carry pain to the brain. TENS may also help stimulate your body to release endorphins, your natural painkillers.
Microcurrent electrotherapy generates very low levels of electrical stimulation that are in tune with the body's electrical functioning. Microcurrent therapy is thought to help cellular repair and in cases of minor nerve damage or neuropathy, may assist with nerve regeneration.
Inflammation is often the underlying cause of nerve scratching and irritation. Electrotherapy may assist lymphatic drainage and blood flow, aiding the reduction of swelling, and pressure built up on compressed or irritated nerves.
Electrotherapy has an expansive scope in clinical applications. It is used for:
Electrotherapy Benefits may be used to control pain, stimulate weak muscles, assist with range of motion mobility, and serve a variety of therapeutic purposes.
Your electrotherapy for back pain session is easy, quick, non-invasive and painless. You will have several small electrodes placed on your skin over the area being treated during this session. The therapist will adjust the intensity and frequency of the electrical impulses to your comfort level. You may feel tingling/vibrating sensations, and during EMS, you may feel your muscles gently contract.
We typically have sessions that last 15–30 minutes and can be done several times a week, depending on your condition and how you respond to the treatment.
Electrotherapy is a powerful and versatile treatment that offers numerous benefits for muscle and nerve health. From pain management and injury recovery to muscle strengthening and nerve regeneration, this therapy can play a key role in enhancing physical function and overall quality of life.
If you're considering Electrotherapy Benefits and want expert guidance tailored to your specific health needs, look no further than Wings Chiropractic. Our dedicated team offers a range of advanced services, including electrotherapy, to help you recover faster, feel better, and move more freely. Schedule a consultation today and take the first step toward better muscle and nerve health. Visit our website and gain more information now.