NEUROPLASTICITY
EMS INCREASES NEUROPLASTICITY
THE BENEFITS OF E-STIM FOR STROKE RECOVERY
BY FLINTREHAB
Electro Muscle Stimulation ( EMS ) for stroke patients offers a wide range of benefits . From improving motor skills to preventing atrophy , electrical stimulation ( E-stim ) can help you overcome many secondary effects of stroke . ( Always consult with your therapist before starting any e-stim program .)
How Does Electro Muscle Stimulation ( EMS ) for Stroke Patients Work ?
To understand how EMS works , it will help to understand how stroke affects your muscles . The brain uses chemical and electrical signals to tell your muscles when to move . When a stroke occurs , the damaged parts of the brain can no longer send these signals properly . As a result , it can become difficult , if not impossible , to move your affected muscles . This is where EMS can help .
EMS works by placing non-invasive electrodes on your skin . Once activated , these electrodes send low to mid-range frequency impulses directly to your muscles , causing them to contract .
EMS for stroke patients can help to activate the damaged portions of the brain by providing intense stimulation . In turn , this stimulation engages neuroplasticity , the process the brain uses to rewire itself and heal from injuries like stroke .
Neuroplasticity allows healthy areas of the brain to take over functions from damaged ones . It does this by forming new neural pathways in response to stimulation . Therefore , e-stim , by providing extra stimulation , can boost neuroplasticity and potentially speed up stroke recovery .
Benefits of EMS for Stroke Patients
Below are the major effects of a stroke that e-stim has been proven to help with :
1 . Hemiplegia ( Post-Stroke Paralysis ) and Muscle Weakness
EMS may help introduce movement into paralyzed muscles after stroke ( hemiplegia ). When EMS activates the paralyzed muscles , you can capitalize on the opportunity and practice paralysis recovery exercises to help rewire the brain .
Ideally , through massed practice , this can help stroke patients with paralysis slowly regain movement . Stimulating your muscles regularly will also help prevent muscle atrophy , a common side effect of stroke paralysis .
If you struggle with weakness after a stroke , but not paralysis , EMS can also help . As discussed above , by combining EMS with physical and / or occupational therapy exercises , you can maximize your gains .
2 . Spasticity and Gait ( Walking )
In addition , EMS has been shown to help reduce spasticity in stroke patients , even after a massive stroke . It works by restoring communication between the brain and the spastic muscles , which helps the muscles relax and lengthen .
Stroke patients that wish to improve their balance and gait can also benefit from electrical stimulation . First , the electrodes are applied to the lower extremities then , by practicing proper gait techniques , you can boost neuroplasticity and regain proper movement .
Some therapists might also combine EMS with specialized equipment such as an assistive treadmill . This treadmill comes with a harness that holds you up in a standing position . A team of therapists will then help you move your feet in a walking motion as the treadmill runs .
3 . Shoulder Subluxation Some stroke patients struggle with a shoulder issue called shoulder subluxation where the arm becomes dislocated from the shoulder socket . This condition is often painful .
Studies have found that functional electrical stimulation can help reduce the severity of shoulder subluxation and pain . It can also help improve arm function , too .
4 . Edema ( Swollen Limbs )
Besides sensory issues , electrical stimulation can help reduce edema after stroke . Edema refers to the buildup of excess fluid in tissue cavities and is especially common in stroke patients with mobility impairments .
When muscles are inactive for too long , they cannot move fluid through the lymphatic system . As a result , fluid can collect in the limbs , causing pain and stiffness .
Electrical stimulation , by contracting the muscles , helps move the fluid through the body . This prevents edema from occurring and restores more functional movements in the limbs .
26 NUZUNA WELLNESS CENTERS