Living with Chronic Pain? Electrical Stimulation Physical Therapy Could Benefit You
Electrical Stimulation Could be the Answer for Your Chronic Pain!
Have you sustained an injury or illness that has left you with chronic pain? If that is the case, the solution could be electrical stimulation physical therapy.
Electrical stimulation is a safe and effective form of treatment that can help you with pain relief and recovery. While it may sound overwhelming, it’s actually a very effective way to relieve pain!
A typical electrical stimulation system uses self-adhesive electrodes, which are mounted on the body around the targeted treatment area. The electrodes are then connected to a device via wire lines through which electricity can pass through and eventually communicate with sensory and/or motor nerves.
To learn more, click here to request an appointment at our Cambridge and Marblehead physical therapy clinic today!
What will electrical stimulation treatments look like?
Electrical stimulation is often prescribed for pain.
This modality can trigger an innate and completely natural analgesic effect by stimulating specific sensory nerve fibers (including A-beta, A-delta, and C fibers), which both decrease the sensation of pain and release neurotransmitters that prolong the pain-relieving effects.
Electrical stimulation has a variety of other benefits, including:
Reduce, eliminate, and/or control pain (both acute and chronic)
Reduce muscle spasm
Improve motor coordination
Prevent or reverse muscle atrophy (especially after prolonged immobilization, such as a limb being cast as a fracture heals)
Provide neuromuscular re-education
Decrease swelling
Increase local circulation
Improve range of motion
Provide biofeedback (aka improve body awareness)
It is also safe to use electrical stimulation on all parts of the body, including the anterior neck, eyes, or areas with damaged skin or reduced sensation.
Electrical stimulation is not the best option for everyone, however. Electrical stimulation will likely not be 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:
Acute sports-related or auto accident-related injuries
Muscle strains
Neurological conditions, such as a stroke
Ligament sprains
Repetitive stress injuries
Will I feel pain with electrical stimulation physical therapy?
Not at all! It is easy for a physical therapist to adjust the strength of electrical stimulation of the muscles or sensory stimulation of the nerves to the tolerance of each patient.
Electrical stimulation includes a variety of different ways to stimulate the nerves.
Transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the nerve (TENS), interference, pre-modulated, Russian, and symmetrical or asymmetrical bi-phasic are among the various modes.
All of these modes have specific currents, and the current you are prescribed will depend on the type and severity of your condition.
Some patients report a slight discomfort, such as a “tingly,” “prickly,” or “pins and needles” sensation.
Electrical stimulation can sometimes become a bit uncomfortable when used for muscle enhancement, but it should never result in pain.
What will I gain with electrical stimulation physical therapy?
The ultimate goal of our Cambridge and Marblehead physical therapy practice is your comfort, protection, and integrity.
At your initial appointment, in addition to asking questions about your current condition and medical background, our physical therapist will also perform a physical examination.
From there, an individualized treatment plan will be developed by one of our certified Cambridge and Marblehead physical therapists, based on your personal needs.
If your physical therapist feels that you will benefit from electrical stimulation, he or she will explain it in-depth and integrate it into your treatment plan.
During an electrical stimulation procedure, you will be asked to sit or lie in a comfortable position. Our physical therapist will clean and prepare your skin in the target treatment area and walk you through the entire treatment step-by-step.
Discover how you could benefit from electrical stimulation physical therapy 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 Cambridge and Marblehead physical therapists can get you started on the path to pain relief and recovery!