|
| |
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) in Physiotherapy
An NMES system produces an electrical stimulus that, when properly
applied, activates specific muscles or muscle groups in patients who
will not, or cannot, contract muscles voluntarily. The
stimulator
produces a mild electrical current that is transmitted through the skin
to the motor end plates causing nerve depolarization and subsequent
activation of muscle fibres.
NMES is useful to
- Re-educate muscle timing - Controlled movement
consists of a
series of coordinated and timed muscle contractions. In
pathology
this timing may by inhibited or altered.
- Override the inhibitory effects of nearby joint
pain or
inflammation on muscle contraction - Sensory and painful input
from joints will inhibit the recruitment of as many motor units as are
called upon
- Recruit a maximum number of muscle fibres during
strengthening
exercises - By using NMES in conjunction with active exercise
we
are able to recruit more muscle fibres than with exercise alone.
|
|
|
