Electrostimulation: What is it and what are its contraindications?
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 to accelerate muscle recovery.
The 2 most frequently asked questions regarding electrostimulation which we will answer below are:
1: What is electrostimulation?
2: What are the contraindications?
What is electrical stimulation?
Electrical stimulation was basic, used primarily in the medical setting to accomplish various physiotherapy tasks. If you have an illness or injury causing pain or limited functional mobility, electrical stimulation may be used as part of your rehabilitation program.
Conditions in which electrical stimulation is used may include:
- Back pain
- Post-surgical pain
- For muscle weakness or poor motor control
- Tendonitis
If you experience pain, spasms , inflammation, or muscle weakness, your physical therapist can use this versatile modality as part of your treatment.
Electrostimulation at the service of your beauty
Following the numerous benefits of this technology, electrostimulation has expanded into the sporting environment in order to increase the physical performance of high-level athletes. Today, this cutting-edge innovation is accessible to the general public!
Muscle stimulation is also present in the beauty industry for its anti-aging effectiveness.
In what cases is electrostimulation used?
Electrical stimulation is used for many reasons. It can be used to administer medications for inflammation, to contract muscles that are weak or not functioning 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) while the treatment is applied. Regarding most successful rehabilitation programs includes active participation of the patient.
Learning the right movements and exercises for your specific condition is key. For this reason, some professionals wonder if electrostimulation is something valid in physiotherapy. Other research indicates that certain types of stimulation can be helpful, we'll look at the different types a little further down in this article.
Electrostimulation at the service of your beauty
Electrostimulation is today very popular in the context of physical improvement. The use of muscle stimulators by individuals has increased significantly in recent years, more particularly stimulators for the abdominals and buttocks .
Indeed, EMS technology is scientifically proven and the numerous studies demonstrating the results provided by this type of device have something to do with this flamboyant success.
The big question: should electrical stimulation be used alone?
While the debate rages, one thing is certain : electrical stimulation will benefit you in the context of physical improvement, however, we do not claim like some unscrupulous competitors that this is a magic method.
The results will be there , but we strongly advise you to include a minimum of physical exercise and to have a good balanced diet.
Another important point: ordering one of our stimulators will be favorable to you on one condition... using it regularly 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 someone going there 3 to 4 times a week, think about it. 😉
What to expect during a session?
For medical use, your doctor may choose to use electrical stimulation during your rehabilitation, he or she should explain the procedure and the expected risks and benefits to you. A typical application of electrical stimulation looks like this:
- Apply electrodes to your skin, they are connected via a wire to an electrostimulation machine.
- You will feel a slight tingling sensation.
- 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 muscle strength or function, you may need to contract your muscle while the machine is operating.
Applying electrical pulses may be a little uncomfortable, but it should never hurt. If you feel pain during electrical stimulation, reduce the intensity or stop the program if necessary.
Different types of electrical stimulation
If you practice electrostimulation with a physiotherapist, they will use different types of stimulation according to your needs. Here are the different types:
TENS: short for the English name “Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation” is a transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation widely used to relieve acute and chronic pain . This practice aims to block painful signals transmitted to your brain using electrical impulses sent to the area to be treated via electrodes.
Iontophoresis: Stimulation often used by patients suffering from excessive sweating, muscle spasms and inflammation. This practice uses a low intensity electrical current to administer certain therapeutic molecules into your body.
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation is used to cause the contraction of a group of muscles or a single muscle. Muscle contraction promotes blood circulation to 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 interference current is very tolerated by particularly sensitive patients. This stimulation has a strong ability to penetrate tissues. Widely used to relieve lower 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 for the purpose of physical improvement can be used alone, without physical exercises in parallel, but research indicates that the results will be much greater when using it in addition to or during physical exercise.
As we know, physical exercise is very important for our health so why do without it if we have the ability to practice it?
What Risks?
If your physical therapist wants to use electrical stimulation during your rehabilitation treatments, he or she must explain to you the different benefits and risks associated with the treatment.
Risks may include muscle tearing, tissue burning, or skin irritation.
Elec'tonic offers you secure equipment to avoid this, we will detail it in the paragraphs below.
Muscle tear
If the electrical stimulation pulse is adjusted to too high an intensity, you may feel severe muscle pain. If this happens, tearing of your muscle tissue may occur. In this case, the Electro Stimulator should be stopped immediately and treatment of an acute muscle injury should be started.
Typically, these injuries occur with devices not equipped with a start-up safety device. All our devices are equipped with this security feature preventing a program from being launched at maximum intensity by mistake. The user should also avoid suddenly increasing intensities when their muscle fibers are cold.
Skin irritation
Some forms of electrical stimulation can cause irritation to the skin under the electrode. Iontophoresis uses direct current during application, which is known to be irritating to the skin. Sometimes people with sensitive skin may be irritated by the electrode adhesive or electrical stimulation.
If irritation occurs, the procedure should be stopped and lotion can be applied to the affected area.
If you suffer from a tissue burn
If electrical stimulation is applied with too high an intensity, tissue burns may occur. Although very rare, it can happen and the procedure should be stopped immediately and proper skin care provided.
Your physical therapist should ensure that electrical stimulation is used correctly to minimize the risks associated with using these devices. Understanding these risks can help you decide if you want to include it as part of rehabilitation.
Contraindications of electrostimulation
Here we are, the answer to the question that some of our clients are asking “ What are the contraindications to muscle stimulation?” »
The use of this technique is relatively safe in most cases, but it is important to know the contraindications associated with the use of these devices.
Contraindications to electrical stimulation include:
- Presence of an implanted electrical device (stimulation could interfere with implanted pacemakers or pain stimulators.)
- If you have epilepsy
- If you are pregnant
Also remember to remove any piercing located near the targeted area during your session and do not use your stimulator on the same area for more than 70 minutes per day. Do not use near your eyes, reproductive organs and carotid sinuses.
But apart from the 3 points mentioned above, muscle stimulation is a safe practice. If you have the slightest doubt about your state of health, seek the advice of your doctor before using our electro-stimulation devices.
Good session ! 🙂
