Electrostimulation: what is it and what are its counter Indications ?
Muscle stimulation, in recent years, has been used more and more in the daily lives of individuals. Whether for its natural analgesic benefits, for physical improvement or accelerate muscle recovery.
The 2 most frequent questions concerning l'electrostimulation to which we will answer below are:
1: What is electrostimulation ?
2: ?
What is electrical stimulation ?
Electrical stimulation was basic, used mainly in the medical environment to accomplish various tasks in physiotherapy. If you have illness or injury causing pain or limited functional mobility, electrical stimulation can be used as part of your rehabilitation program.
The conditions under which electrical stimulation is used may include:
- Dorsal pain
- Postonurgical pain
- For muscle weakness or poor engine control
- Tendinitis
If you feel pain, spasms, inflammation or muscle weakness, your physiotherapist can use this versatile modality in the context of your treatment.
electrostimulation at the service of your beauty
Following the many benefits of this technology, electrostimulation has widened in the sports environment in order to increase the physical performance of high -level athletes. Today, this advanced innovation is accessible to the general public!
Muscle stimulation is also present in the beauty industry for its anti-aging .
In which cases electrostimulation is used ?
Electrical stimulation is used for many reasons. It can be used to administer inflammation drugs, to contract weak muscles or that do not work properly. Neurostimulation can also be used to help reduce pain or spasms.
There is evidence and cases where electrical stimulation is used to help treat stubborn wounds. A specialist physiotherapist can provide you with this type of treatment.
Electrical stimulation is a relatively passive modality, you do nothing (or very little) during the application of treatment. Regarding most successful rehabilitation programs includes the active participation of the patient.
Learning the right movements and exercises for your specific condition is the key. For this reason, some professionals wonder if electrostimulation is something valid in physiotherapy. Other research indicates that certain types of stimulation can be useful, we will see the different types a little lower in this article.
Electrostimulation at the service of your beauty
Electrostimulation is today very sought after in the context of physical improvement. The use of muscle stimulators by individuals has increased very clearly in recent years, more particularly stimulators for abdominals and buttocks.
Indeed, EMS technology is scientifically proven and the many studies demonstrating the results brought by this type of devices have something to do with this flamboyant success.
The big question: should we use electrical stimulation alone ?
While the debate is raging, One thing is certain: electrical stimulation will be beneficial to you in the context of physical improvement, however, we do not claim as some unscrupulous competitors that this is a magical method.
The results will be there but we strongly advise you to include a minimum of physical exercises and to have a good food balance.
Another important point: Order one of our stimulators will be favorable to you on a condition ... Use it regularly, it is like a sport, if you are registered in a fitness room but only go there once a week, the results will be less important than a person going there 3 to 4 times a week. 😉
What to expect during a session ?
As part of medical use, your doctor may choose to use electrical stimulation during your rehabilitation, he or she should explain the expected procedure and risks and advantages. A typical application of electrical stimulation looks like this:
- Apply electrodes to your skin, they are connected via a son to an electrostimulation machine.
- You will feel a slight feeling of tingling.
- The sensation will be increased until it is strong but comfortable.
- If stimulation is used for muscle spasm or pain relief, you will relax during treatment.
- If electricity is used to improve strength or muscle function, you may have to contract your muscle while the machine works.
The application of electric pulses can be a bit uncomfortable, but it should never hurt. If you feel pain during electrical stimulation, decrease the intensity or stop the program if necessary.
The different types of electrical stimulation
If you practice electrostimulation in a physiotherapist, it will use different types of stimulation according to your needs. Here are the different types:
tens: Diminutive of the English appellation "transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation" is a transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation widely used for relieve them Pain acute and chronic. The purpose of this practice is to block the painful signals transmitted to your brain thanks to electrical impulses sent to the area to be treated via electrodes.
Iontophoresis: stimulation often used by patients with excessive sweats, muscular spasms and dinflammation. This practice uses a low -intensity electric current to administer certain molecules with therapeutic purposes in your body.
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation is used to cause the contraction of a group of muscles or a single muscle. The contraction of the muscle promotes blood circulation towards an area conducive to healing, this will depend on the position of the electrodes and the targeted area.Neurostimulation is also effective in relaxing your muscles and relieving spasms.
Russian stimulation is mainly used for muscle strengthening. It is an electrical neurostimulation using predetermined intensity and frequency parameters. Russian stimulation is also used to depolarize motor nerves.
The interferential current is very tolerated by particularly sensitive patients. This stimulation has a strong capacity to enter the tissues. Much used to relieve low back pain, this practice is generally used with 4 electrodes, the current interferes between the electrodes, allowing you to use a higher intensity with maximum comfort.
Electrostimulation used with a objective physical improvement can be used alone, without parallel physical exercises but research indicates that the results will be much more important by using it in addition or during physical exercise.
As we know, physical exercise is very important for our health so why happen if we have the capacity to practice ?
What Risks ?
If your physiotherapist wishes to use electrical stimulation during your rehabilitation treatments, he or she must explain the different advantages and risks associated with treatment.
Risks may include muscle tear, tissue burning or skin irritation.
Elec'tonic offers you equipment in order to avoid this, we will detail in the paragraphs below.
Muscle tear
If the electrical stimulation impulse is adjusted to too high intensity, you may experience intense muscle pain. If this happens, a tear of your muscle tissue can occur. In this case, the electro stimulator should be stopped immediately and the treatment of a sharp muscle injury should be started.
these injuries occur with devices not equipped with start -up safety. All our devices are equipped with this safety preventing the launch of a program with maximum intensity by mistake. The user must also avoid suddenly increases the intensities when his muscle fibers are cold.
Skatane irritation
Some forms of electrical stimulation can cause skin irritation under the electrode. Iontophoresis uses a direct current during application, which is known to be irritating to the skin. Sometimes, people with sensitive skin can be irritated by the adhesive of the electrode or by electrical stimulation.
In case of irritation, the procedure must be stopped and a lotion can be applied to the affected area.
If you suffer from tissue burn
If electrical stimulation is applied with too high intensity, tissue burns can occur. Although this is very rare, it can happen and the procedure must be stopped immediately and appropriate skin care must be provided.
Your physiotherapist must ensure that electrical stimulation is used correctly in order to minimize the risks linked to the use of these devices. Understanding these risks can help you decide if you want to include it in the context of rehabilitation.
Contraindications of electrostimulation
Here we are, the answer to the question that some of our customers ask themselves "What are the contraindications of muscle stimulation ?"
The use of this technique is relatively safe in most cases, but it is important to know the contradicts related to the use of these devices.
Contraindications to electrical stimulation include:
- Presence of an implanted electrical device (stimulation could interfere with heart stimulators or implanted pain stimulators.)
- If you suffer from epilepsy
- If you are pregnant
Also remember to remove any piercing close to the targeted area during your session and do not use your stimulator on the same area more of 70 minutes per day. Do not use near your eyes, reproductive organs and carotid sinus.
But apart from the 3 points mentioned above, muscle stimulation is a safe practice. If you have any doubts about your state of health, ask your doctor's advice before using our electro-stimulation devices.
Good session! 🙂
