A tool often used by physical therapists is an electronic muscle stimulator. These have been used for almost half a century in the medical community. Hospitals, physical rehab facilities and clinics use them frequently. Now these EMS machines are available for home use to firm, tone and strengthen muscles.
Before purchasing one for home be sure it has a safety approval from your country's regulatory body. Those that are unregulated are not necessarily unsafe but some have been reported to have given people shocks and bruises. Whether this is due to the unit or lack of following directions is not clear. Those with a safety recommendation will ensure you are completely safe when using the unit.
Medically these machines are used for a variety of reasons and conditions. Any condition or injury that interferes with the function of muscles can benefit from an EMS. Patients that have pain from muscle spasms can find relief since it will relax the area.
It helps if there is a need to increase the ability to move muscles, to help muscles relearn how to work properly until the patient can do so themselves. Muscle atrophy or weakening of muscles due to being sedentary whether voluntary or involuntary will benefit from its use. It is routinely used with patients who have had a stroke and have temporary paralysis.
The units for home use and medical use are not the same. The higher intensity is best left in professional hands. If there is serious injury to the muscle a higher frequency may be required than can be found on a home machine. The patient is started with a low frequency until they are used to it then it is slowly increased. When the patient is comfortable and knows how the contraction of their muscle should feel a home use unit may be given to them.
These machines come in various sizes, of course the ones for home use are smaller. They may have a digital display with instructions and show what the frequency is that is being set with the ability to lock it in to provide consistency. Some are even a hand held size. The electrodes are attached to leads which are attached to the EMS. These electrodes will be applied to the skin at the site of the necessary muscle. Once the unit is on an electrical impulse goes directly to that area and contracts and relaxes the muscle rhythmically. It mimics the way a muscle naturally moves and stimulates the nerves to move them.
Stimulators are used by sports coaches and athletes in general. This is not only for rehabilitation purposes but to make muscles respond faster, and increase the strength and endurance of them as well. Although it can help an athlete recover from an injury faster. There are some stimulators that are promoted to help tone, firm and help define muscles. In conjunction with regular exercise this is certainly true and can be used when exercise is not possible.
The elderly benefit from the use of an electronic muscle stimulator as it will increase oxygen and circulation to the muscles. This will tone them and increase endurance and with better muscle tone you have stronger bones. However the unit is used it can increase overall quality of life.
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The electronic muscle stimulator is useful for medical rehabilitation and physical therapy. As the market for electronic muscle stimulator expands, one product that stands out is the Russian Stim, well-known for its pain relief and minimum disturbance.
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