E-Stim: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It May Help You
If you’re struggling with fibromyalgia or recovering from a traumatic injury or any other medical condition, you can find permanent relief through electrical stimulation (e-stim).
And even though this painless procedure might not be suitable for everyone, a significant number of people are finding it very effective in relieving pain and boosting recovery.
In this blog, we’ll have a detailed discussion about everything that you should know about electrical stimulation.
What Is E-Stim?
E-stim is an advanced form of physical therapy that involves sending mild and short bursts of electric pulses through the skin. It increases the nervous activity in injured muscles, operates the nerves to alleviate the pain, and improves blood flow.
In this therapy, signals are sent to the affected muscles to initiate contractions. Repetitive flexing and relaxing improves the blood flow that accelerates the healing of injured tissues. It also strengthens the muscles and restores essential motor functions, which is especially crucial for those who’ve survived a stroke.
How Does It Work?
Your physician will begin by placing small sticky electrodes on your skin where you feel discomfort and pain. These electrode pads are all connected to a portable e-stim device that sends the electric current. The pulses enables your body to produce endorphins—a pain-relieving chemical.
What Does E-Stim Treat?
Medical facilities have widely adopted electrical stimulation for treating several conditions, including:
- Lumbar pain
- Post chemotherapy pain
- Dysphagia(painful swallowing of food or saliva)
- Different types of arthritis
- Traumatic muscle injury
- Joint pain
- Inflammation of nerves
- Urinary tract infection
- Spinal cord injuries
- Post-surgery pain
Is Electrical Stimulation Beneficial?
Electrical stimulation targets clogged nerves and injured muscles to relieve chronic and severe pain. According to a 2019 research, along with treating pain associated with musculoskeletal problems, it is also effective in treating pain that doesn’t respond to traditional treatment methods such as physical therapy and invasive surgeries.
However, it’s important to note that electrical stimulation isn’t a frontline treatment in every case. Instead, it’s one of the many options available to physical therapists for alleviating nerve and musculoskeletal pain.
You may begin to feel the change after one session, but that truly depends on how severe your symptoms and conditions are. A study found that 36 sessions of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES), over 16 weeks, enhanced muscular functions in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
What’s the Takeaway for You?
The e-stim procedure has been embraced as a standard component of physical therapy for several health conditions. Make sure you discuss your medical history with your physician and update them on any prescription medication you have been taking.
If you’re based in Shelbyville, there’s no better option than Shelby County Chiropractic by Dr. James Stapleton, DC. Call us at 502-633-1073 to learn more about electrical stimulation and other Kentucky safe chiropractic treatments that we offer in Louisville.