Electrical Stimulation

Electrical stimulation (E-stim) is used to rehabilitate muscles affected by injury or disease and to help increase the localized blood flow.

E-stim can be used to maintain or increase range of motion, prevent disuse atrophy, re-educate muscles, relax muscle spasms, increase blood circulation, wound care and/or pain management. E-stim should not be used with individuals who have cardiac pacemakers or those who are pregnant.


Electrodes are applied to the area to be treated. We use disposable multi-day electrodes which use a solid polymer gel and a built-in tape patch.

 Properly caring for the skin prior to the application of the electrodes will allow more stimulation to reach the targeted tissue, and reduces the risk of skin irritation. Treatment sessions last approximately 15 minutes.
E-stim is helpful in muscle re-education, wound care, and pain management.


Ultrasound

Ultrasound therapy is the use of acoustic energy that penetrates the skin for both its deep heating and non-thermal deep soft tissue stimulation effects. Ultrasound is applied over the skin's surface using a hand-held transducer. The soundwaves then penetrate to the deep soft tissues and muscles. Benefits of ultrasound include: pain relief, decreased contracture, decreased edema, wound healing, increased soft tissue extensibility, and increased circulation. Ultrasound should not be applied to areas of infection, thrombophlebitis, or over a known tumor.

The ultrasound sends the voltage through the soundhead to the crystal. This energy is transformed into sound energy causing the crystal to vibrate at a specific frequency. Two commonly used frequencies are 1 and 3 MHz.

Ultrasound usually penetrates 1 to 5 cm depending on the frequency. An ultrasound set at 1 MHz will penetrate to 5 cm, while 3 MHz will penetrate 1-2 cm. Therefore, the frequency will be determined by the depth of the tissues being treated.

 There are many benefits to using ultrasound. This modality allows the heat to reach the deep tissue structures. By heating the tendon, ligament, and articular capsule, it increases the elasticity of those structures. Heating with ultrasound can also increase circulation. Ultrasound provides direct stimulation to the peripheral nerves which may aid in pain relief. It is also beneficial in edema reduction.Click here to go back