Neuro-muscular electrostimulation, as well as the voluntary contraction, involves a contraction phase (stimulation), followed by a rest phase (pause). The REST phase is extremely important for the muscle; during the contraction, in fact, capillary circulation is necessarily blocked and, if the muscle would remain contracted for a long time, without an adequate resting phase, the
Read moreWe know that an electrical generator, to produce a current flow, must be “closed” on a load. The load, in the electro stimulation, is represented by the muscle to be stimulated. The connection between the generator and the treatment area (load) will be performed by means of a pair of conductive electrodes, having the job
Read moreThe success of the therapy could be conditioned from different factors and can be different from patient to patient. The position of the electrodes is one of the elements that can highly influence the therapeutic effectiveness. The therapist will have the patience to try different alternative positions, so that individualise most effective and the more
Read moreThere are no mathematical formulae for determining the optimum level of electrical stimulation. The level of intensity must be enough to cause the required level of contraction but without discomfort or pain for the patient. It is also important not to forget that the quantity of muscular fibres recruited depends not only on the intensity
Read moreAccording to current scientific evidence, the most suitable waveform in order to obtain muscle contraction, using low energy impulses, is the symmetrical two-phase impulse. The impulse must be wide enough to allow a transfer of energy which is sufficient to excite the muscle fibres. A width which is greater does not give any advantage and
Read moreThe stimulation frequency would have an important role in the treatment efficiency – but there are many differences of opinion which exist even now; LOW frequencies (around 10Hz) should produce a delayed, and less intense analgesic action but longer lasting, whereas frequencies above 50Hz should determine a faster analgesic effect but of shorter duration. Some
Read moreOf course the gate control theory is not the only one in the pain modulation field; a more up-to-date interpretation foresees a chemical-humoral control mechanism, based on the stimulated production of endogenous substances “similar to morphine” (bodily produced morphine) the so called endorphins and enkephalins. These both act on the pain control system, decrease the
Read moreWe defined the better wave shape to be used, and a single pulse could also produce a momentary contraction like a “wriggle”; any way, to obtain a sustained contraction, we must supply a pulse train, characterised by a “frequency” (at least 30 pulses per second). Frequency is the repetition rate of pulses in a time
Read moreR. Melzac and P. Wall’s gate control theory presented in 1965, is based on the existence of different types of nerve fibers in charge of “sensation” transmission, from the human body fringe area to the central nervous system. In this way we have: – Small diameter myelinic fibers type A (delta) and unmyelinated type C.
Read morePain is a complex sensation, which originates from the sensitive nerve terminals of the pain zone. The pain is then recognised and codified by the central nervous system which in its turn combats or lessens it. Any external intervention, either of a physical, pharmacological or surgical nature must be orientated as far as possible towards
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