EMS Devices and Sports Injury Rehabilitation

Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), also known as neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) or electromyostimulation uses an electrical current to stimulate your muscles. The impulses are produced by a device and delivered through electrodes that are placed on the skin near the muscles that require stimulation. The impulses mimic the impulses generated by the brain to stimulate muscle tissue. The result of stimulation is the toning and strengthening of muscles.

How EMS Works

EMS devices have become quite popular in sports injury rehabilitation. When a person has a muscle injury, the electrical current produced by the EMS machine stimulates the muscles. This stimulation triggers repairing of the muscle tissue.

Electronic Muscle Stimulation Devices produce electrical signals that stimulate the nerves. The devices are normally connected to the patient through electrodes that are held in place with adhesive. By placing the pads on a certain set of muscles, and then sending the impulses via the EMS unit, the muscles will react by contracting and relaxing. The resulting contractions are much like the contractions that take place during regular exercise.

Depending on the area that requires treatment, a practitioner can switch the voltage for different pressure points on the muscle. The low voltage reduces pain and stimulates the muscle tissue. EMS devices help stimulate muscle tissue that may not be affected by regular exercise routines. They will stimulate damaged muscle tissues resulting in repairing, toning, and strengthening of the damaged tissue. Wherever the tissues are damaged, EMA devices will stimulate the fibers to various degrees and patterns. These patterns will create a different response from the contraction. Programs are designed to improve exhaustion resistance, endurance, and promote muscle healing. The purpose of using EMS on athletes is to shorten recovery time so they can return to the sport.

Benefits of using EMS Devices

When using EMS devices, the repair process is much quicker because nerve and muscle tissue are able to recover faster after an injury. The rehabilitation process is reduced so the athlete is able to return to the sport much sooner. The treatment is much less painful so the athlete is motivated to concentrate on the healing process. If treatment takes place right away, an athlete has a better chance of avoiding a long term injury. This will keep the athlete positive during the rehabilitation process. Because the devices are very light and battery-operated, they can be taken almost any place. As well, it is an effective tool for people who have a long term injury. If someone spends a great deal of time in bed, a condition known as muscle atrophy will take place. This condition occurs when the muscles begin to waste. Electrical muscle stimulation is an excellent and efficient way of maintaining muscle integrity and strength.

The electrical muscle stimulation device is normally used by a professional medical practitioner. They know exactly where to place the electrodes in order stimulate the correct muscle fiber. An untrained individual may use the device improperly which could add further trauma to the injury. As well, the FDA states that EMS devices should not be used on children and should be used in accordance with their intended use.

People who use the for purposes other than a sports injury do so for stress and relief from minor pain such as muscle and joint aches, to enhance their fitness program, strengthen muscles, and improve their appearance.

Most people who have received EMS treatment find the process helpful and relaxing. Electronic muscle stimulators are a great way to promote muscle healing, control pain, and tone and strengthen your muscles.

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Knee Strengthening Exercises - If you have a bad knee then knee physical therapy is very important.  This article outlines knee rehabilitation exercises that can be used to strengthen and reduce pain in the knee.

Exercises for a Bad Knee

Knee pain can occur for various reasons. Read on for some basic exercises for a bad knee.

Physical exercises are very important and should be incorporated in our everyday life to have a healthy mind and a healthy body. One can choose from many fitness activities that will help to keep a body fit and active. Well, a person may suffer from a bad knee due to a variety of reasons. It can be because of an injury or it may happen even with age. Here, we can take a quick look at some basic exercises for a bad knee.

Exercises for a Bad Knee:
There are many exercises that help to strengthen muscles around the knee area. These exercises also help to strengthen muscles and ligaments even around the buttock. Take a look at some of the examples.

Lie on your back and bend your knees. Feet should be flat on the floor. Then, suck your belly button inside and clench your bottom. Now, you would need to lift the body off from the floor and point it towards the ceiling. Remain in the position for 2 seconds and then slowly lower yourself halfway towards the floor. Remember one thing whilst you do this step – keep the tummy and the bottom squeezed towards the inside. Now, repeat the process. Avoid lowering the body completely on the floor with the repetition of each step. Begin with small sets and increase them during the week.

A lunge is a very easy exercise for a bad knee. Put one leg forward and bend both knees. You must keep the body straight. After bending, come up slowly. Repeat the process by putting the other leg forward. This will stretch the thighs as well.

Here is another exercise for a bad knee. You first need to lie on the floor. Then, place a towel underneath the thighs. This will act as a support. Now, keep the leg straight and then raise the foot to a height of 6 inches. Hold the leg in this position for a few seconds. Then, lower the foot by bending the knee. Repeat at least 10 times. You need to try alternate sides for this exercise.

You can read more about knee strengthening exercises. Yoga exercises also prove to be very helpful in the long run. A basic exercise routine is thus so important for physical fitness.

Exercises for Knee Pain

Hey everybody, Knee&l fef t;/b> pain sucks. It makes you feel like you can’t exercise, when in reality, there’s so much you can do. Knee Pain Exercises – Knee.

Arthritis Knee Exercises

Knee arthritis exercises are very important if one is experiencing arthritis in the knee joints. 

Knee (ACL) Exercises

Passive knee extension: Do this exercise if you are unable to fully extend your knee. While lying on your back, place a rolled up towel underneath the heel of you injured leg so it is about 6 inches off the ground.

Knee Exercises

Patellar Tendonitis (Jumper’s Knee) Rehabilitation Exercises. You can do the hamstring stretch right away. When the pain in your knee has decreased, you can do the quadriceps stretch and start strengthening the thigh muscles

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Avoiding total joint replacement surgery on the knee or hip with physical therapy is the best road to recovery.

If you suffer from arthritis is highly likely that you will need either a total hip replacement or knee joint replacement surgery when you get older.

I undertaking a pain management course, under the instruction of a trained physical therapist, and learning pain management skills along with stretches and exercises that improve muscle function many people are preventing or delaying such surgery.

In order to customize the program that meets your abilities and rehabilitation needs, physical therapists will firstly evaluate your condition.  In addition you will learn how to minimize stress on your joints that are injured with a view to minimize the pain.

If joint replacement surgery is unavoidable, it is recommended that in order to know what to expect after surgery, you begin working with an experienced Physical Therapist prior to your surgery.

After  total joint replacement surgery, why is Physical Therapy so essential?

If partial or total joint replacement surgery cannot be avoided, it’s very important to go into this with your eyes open so that you’ll know what to expect after the operation.  The best way to do this is to start working with your physical therapist before you have the surgery.

The importance of undertaking an exercise regimen after joint surgery cannot be over emphasized as it will ensure quick recovery and use of the new joint.  Without an exercise plan, it is possible that you won’t regain full strength and range of motion in the joint which can inhibit movement and be a source of pain.  The type of flexibility and strengthening exercises that you will need after surgery are dependent on the type of surgery that was before.

In your physical therapist should prescribe exercises to strengthen your core, hip and leg muscles and encourage flexibility.  Your rehabilitation program should also include some form of balance training to improve muscular coordination.
In addition your physical therapist or medical practitioner will advise you how to reduce any effects of post surgical scar tissue and muscle imbalance to ensure the fullest possible recovery.

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Technorati Tags: hip, Joint, joint replacement therapy, knee, knee joint replacement surgery, partial, physical therapy, replacement, surgery, total, total knee replacement