Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Electrical muscle stimulation is a modality used in the Athletic Training room. It is the use of an electrical current to cause an effect on the tissue being treated. The most commonly used applications for electrical stimulation in the Athletic Training setting include: decreasing pain, inflammation, muscle spasm; and muscle atrophy.

Electrical stimulation will affect the body in many different ways including: stimulating muscles to contract; stimulating nerves to decrease pain; increasing blood flow to speed healing and reduce inflammation; stimulating cells to reproduce and speed healing. The use of low or high frequency will target specific muscle fiber types (fast or slow twitch fibers). The predominant theory for pain reduction is the Gate Control Theory.