Electrotherapy

What is Electrotherapy? TENS, NMES & HVPC

Electrotherapy is the non-invasive use of different types of electrical stimulation to treat various physical issues. Each type of electrotherapy works in slightly different ways depending on what you are being treated for.

The main types of electrotherapy devices are Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES), and High Voltage Pulsed Current (HVPC).

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) devices are used to help control both chronic and acute (short-term) pain. TENS helps provide pain relief in two ways: Gate Control and Endorphin Production.

Since the same nerve cannot carry a pain impulse and a non-pain impulse simultaneously, the stronger, non-pain impulse overrides the pain signal. This is known as Gate Control.

TENS stimulation also encourages the production and release of greater amounts of endorphin, which interacts with pain receptors, much as a narcotic does, but without the detrimental side effects. TENS is very effective in blocking pain and is used to treat painful conditions in the spine, joints, and muscles.

NMES (Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation)
While TENS works with the nerve fibers and is only used for pain management, Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) replicates the signals of voluntary muscle contractions– working with the muscle fibers instead of the nerve fibers. With this type of movement, NMES is used to strengthen and prevent muscle atrophy in patients unable to exercise their own muscles because of debilitative or traumatic injury.

NMES also helps to move fluid out of swollen tissue in an injured area to help reduce edema. Common candidates for NMES therapy are patients recovering from orthopedic surgery, muscle strains or tears, or patients who have undergone cartilage or tendon repair. NMES Benefits:
• Reduce edema
• Reduce muscle spasms
• Increase blood circulation
• Re-educate muscles
• Strengthen muscles
• Increase or maintain range of motion
• Provide Pain relief