Physical Therapy | 23 Dec 2024
Rebuilding Strength
The Role of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) in RecoveryAt The Training Room, helping our patients regain strength and mobility after surgery or injury is our top priority. Muscle weakness, or atrophy, is a very common occurrence after an injury or surgery. For those struggling with building strength after injury or surgery, Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) can be a game-changing tool. This innovative treatment uses electrical impulses to activate weakened muscles – promoting recovery, improving strength, and restoring mobility.
Here’s how NMES works and why it’s a vital tool for those recovering from injury or surgery.
What Is Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)?
NMES is a non-invasive therapy that delivers electrical impulses to targeted muscles through electrode pads placed directly on the skin. These impulses mimic the body’s natural nerve signals, causing the muscles to contract. This muscle stimulation helps rebuild strength in weakened or inactive muscles, especially when voluntary muscle activation is limited due to injury or surgery.
NMES is a non-invasive therapy that delivers electrical impulses
to targeted muscles through electrode pads placed directly on the skin.
Benefits of NMES
- Restores Muscle Function After Surgery
Post-operative recovery often involves muscle atrophy due to inactivity, especially early on in the recovery process. NMES reactivates these weakened muscles in order to prevent further loss of muscle mass and mobility and to initiate strength building during the early phases of rehabilitation. Learn more about how we assist in post-surgical recovery.
- Accelerates Recovery from Injuries
For people dealing with injuries that prevent full muscle activation, such as in the early stages of a rotator cuff repair, NMES helps to stimulate muscle fibers that are difficult to engage on your own, either due to weakness or post-surgical restrictions. This is especially beneficial in recovering from overuse injuries, sports injuries, or fitness injuries.
- Prevents Muscle Atrophy
When muscles remain inactive for an extended period, they atrophy, or weaken and lose mass, within just a few weeks. NMES helps maintain muscle activity, preserving strength and preventing further atrophy during periods of reduced activity after an injury or surgery.
- Enhances Muscle Re-Education
To create movement, the brain sends signals to the muscles through the nerves. After surgery or injury, the nerves often have a hard time sending signals from the brain to the muscles. NMES stimulates the nerves and retrains the muscles to respond correctly to these signals, improving muscle activation and retraining common movement patterns.
- Supports Strengthening in a Low-Stress Environment
For those unable to perform high-impact exercises or unable to tolerate weight bearing movements such as standing or walking, NMES allows muscles to contract and strengthen without placing stress on bones, joints, or repaired tissues. This allows us to initiate strength building in the early stages of rehabilitation.
How NMES Is Used in Recovery
NMES is often incorporated into the rehabilitation plan along with manual therapy, strength training, and mobility exercises. Here are a few specific applications for athletes:
- Post-Operative Care
Reactivates muscles after various surgeries, allowing people to start rebuilding strength earlier, for example, rebuilding quadriceps strength after an ACL repair.
- Injury Rehabilitation
Targets weakened or immobilized muscles, especially in cases of ligament injuries or tendon repairs, such as a rotator cuff repair, to improve muscle activation and strength.
- Restoring Movement Patterns
Re-educates the muscles to restore normal movement patterns after an injury, such as standing and walking.
- Performance Recovery
Can be used after intense training sessions to reduce muscle fatigue and promote recovery.
Why We Trust NMES for Recovery
NMES is an individualized and adaptable therapy, making it suitable for people at any stage of recovery or training. Whether you’re recovering from surgery or injury or looking to improve strength and mobility, NMES provides a safe, effective, and scientifically backed method to achieve your goals.
Why Choose The Training Room for NMES?
At The Training Room, we integrate NMES into personalized treatment plans that address your unique needs and recovery goals. By using NMES, our expert therapists work with you to target specific muscles, ensuring that you get the best results and return to your sport stronger than ever.
Reclaim Your Strength and Performance
Don’t let pain or muscle weakness stop you from doing what you love. Whether you’re recovering from a surgery, an injury, or a period of inactivity, Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation can help you decrease pain, rebuild strength, enhance muscle activation, and get back in the game.
Contact us today to learn how NMES can fit into your recovery plan and help you reach your full potential.
About the Author
Dr. Saini has 9 years of experience working with a variety of patients from young athletes to film/tv stunt performers. Her specialties are in orthopedics, vestibular/concussion rehabilitation, and post cancer rehab. She also goes on U.S. tours with Broadway shows as the sole physical therapist for performers/crew. Dr. Saini earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology from University of California, Davis. She went on to earn her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from University of California, San Francisco.