Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS)
Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) is a popular treatment for back pain, neck pain, muscle tightness, and muscle spasms. EMS technology delivers effective, affordable pain relief that many people also find very soothing.
Learn more about how to relieve back pain without surgery.
What is Electrical Muscle Stimulation?
Electrical muscle stimulation, sometimes called e-stim or muscle stim, delivers light electrical pulses to the muscles surrounding the site of back or neck pain. This relaxes the muscles which can relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and decrease muscle spasms.
During this therapy, a patient lies down and the Village Chiropractic therapist places electrodes on the affected areas of the skin. When he activates the electrical muscle stimulation device, the pulses will be delivered for a short period of time, 12-20 minutes. The intensity of the electrical pulses can be adjusted so that the treatment is effective while keeping the patient comfortable.
What Conditions Can be Successfully Treated with Electrical Muscle Stimulation?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA has approved the use of electrical muscle stimulators when used by healthcare professionals to treat the pain caused by medical conditions. At Village Chiropractic, we use EMS to treat chronic back and neck pain resulting from a variety of conditions, sprains and strains, and automobile accident injuries.
The goal of chiropractic care is to help patients recover from pain and impaired muscle function without having to undergo surgery. Electrical muscle stimulation is often used as a part of the chiropractic treatment plan.
What are the Benefits of Muscle Stimulation?
For many patients, e-stim is a treatment option available to provide relief from muscle pain, tightness, and spasms. Village Chiropractic focuses on e-stim because it is affordable, effective, essentially pain-free, and has minimal risk of any side effects. It is beneficial as a stand-alone treatment for some patients, and as a helpful addition to other patients who are being treated with combined therapies. Studies show that adding muscle stim with manual adjustments make the adjustment more effective and last longer for most patients.
If you’re looking for back or neck pain relief, chiropractic care including muscle stim is a conservative starting point that can help you avoid surgery (or lengthen the time before surgery is needed. It can also reduce the amount of pain killing medicines, prescription and non-prescription, that you may need to function regularly.
If you are in The Woodlands, Spring or surrounding areas and you’re experiencing back or neck pain or muscle spasms, request an appointment at Village Chiropractic for an evaluation and treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Electrical Muscle Stimulation
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Electrical muscle stimulation, or EMS, is a therapy that delivers controlled electrical impulses through electrodes placed on the skin. It may be used as part of a treatment plan for muscle tension, spasms, and certain musculoskeletal conditions.
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Most patients feel a tingling or gentle pulsing sensation, and the muscles may contract slightly during treatment. The intensity can be adjusted based on your comfort.
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EMS should not be painful when used appropriately. Tell your provider if the sensation becomes uncomfortable so the intensity or electrode placement can be adjusted.
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EMS may be incorporated into treatment for muscle tightness, muscle spasms, strains, and certain types of neck or back pain. Whether it is appropriate depends on the source of your symptoms.v
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Electrical muscle stimulation may be used to help relax tight or spasming muscles as part of a broader treatment plan. It is often combined with other therapies that address the underlying cause of the problem.
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Treatment time varies depending on the area being treated and your care plan. EMS is typically provided as one component of an office visit rather than as a stand-alone treatment.
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EMS and chiropractic adjustments address different aspects of a musculoskeletal problem. Electrical stimulation may be used to address muscle tension or spasms, while an adjustment may focus on joint mobility and mechanical function.
