Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES for short) is a type of electrical stimulation geared toward preventing muscle atrophy and strengthen weak muscles due to lack of use. This treatment focus is different from TENS, which is generally for relief of pain.
NMES is a form of physical therapy that applies electrical muscle stimulation via small electrical impulses to nerves and muscles in an effort to cause involuntary muscle contractions. The electrical impulses are sent by electrodes placed on your skin over the muscle or muscles.
Some health conditions for which this form of electrical muscle stimulation is used as rehabilitation for associated muscle atrophy are:
- stroke
- foot drop
- spasticity
- serious injury
- major surgery
- joint restrictions
- joint contracture
- local blood flow increase
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation isn’t used for muscular atrophy when the nerve supply to the targeted muscle is not intact.
NMES is being investigated as treatment for muscle atrophy related to other health conditions as well, like:
- COPD
- scoliosis
- dysphagia
- Bell’s palsy
- multiple sclerosis
- osteoarthritis of knee
- improve bladder control
- neuromuscular disorders
Sports medicine makes use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation for muscle strengthening, muscle mass maintenance during long periods of immobilization, selective muscle retraining and edema control.
The NMESÂ devices that require a prescription are designed to help you avert muscle atrophy caused by certain health conditions and not muscle size increase for the sake of appearance.