Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Whether you have a work or auto injury, or any other personal injury, chiropractic physicians often use electrical muscle stimulation as part of your regular treatment.  The primary purpose is to reduce pain in areas of complaint.  A small electrical current is sent through the skin to change the patient's perception of pain in a certain area.  Small electrode pads are placed in the painful area in order to change the transmitted signal from the nerve endings.  This leaves the patient with a numb sensation in the region.

People who are involved in motor vehicle accidents typically present with sore, achy, stiff and tight muscles in injured areas.  Depending on the intensity of the electrical signal, muscle stimulation can be used to reduce pain, reduce inflammation, increase strength, and reduce muscle tension/tightness.  This modality can be useful in all stages of the treatment process.

Caution should be practiced when using muscle stimulation in certain situations and regions of the body.  Muscle stimulation for example should not be used over the pregnant uterus, through the heart, over a pacemaker, over malignancy, over an infection, or over an active growth place in an adolescent patient.  Muscle stimulation pads should not be placed too far forward on the neck. There is a specialized receptor called the "carotid sinus" that helps regulate blood pressure and the electrical signal can disrupt this.

Your chiropractor will discuss this treatment modality and determine if this is a good intervention for your condition.