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When it comes to Nmes vs. TENS, both use small electrical stimulations to affect your body. They differ in: 

1. What those signals are targeting

2. What they are trying to do 

TENS therapy uses electrical stimulation to target the nervous system, sending signals to disrupt and block pain signals. 

NMES therapy uses electrical stimulation to target Muscle groups, causing them to contract and relax in a controlled setting. This helps muscles stay active, grow stronger, and combat atrophy. Because of this systematic contraction, NMES can help tight muscles relax and improve blood flow to the targeted area, relieving pain and reducing injury recovery times. 

Find out more about the different forms of electronic stimulation and the pros and cons of using NMES vs. TENS for back pain. 

Electrotherapy Parameters

Different electrical parameters recruit both the sensory and motor nerves. Therefore, NMES and TENS impact the body differently. Understanding those parameters can help you understand how they affect treatment results. 

The parameters used in electrotherapy are:

1. Frequency: Determines the nerves recruited, creating a strong muscular contraction. Using too high of a frequency will cause the muscles to become over-fatigued and potentially weakened.

2. Waveform: Improves comfort levels while providing adequate muscle recruitment and contraction.

3. Pulse Duration: Helps to target deep spinal stabilizing muscles.

4. Amplitude: Heightens the intensity of the stimulation.

5. On:OFF ratio (Duty Cycle):A ratio of the ON time of each cycle to the OFF time (e.g., ON:OFF 10:30 s=1:3 ratio). Higher ratios (1:5) have more rest time between muscle contractions and cause less muscle fatigue.

What Are Other Types of Electrical Stimulation? 

TENS and NMES therapy aren’t the only forms of electrical stimulation therapy. They are the most common because anyone can use them. But here are some of the less common forms of electrical stimulation therapy and how they help people regain mobility and strength. 

FES

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) applies mild electrical stimulation to muscles to help them move better after nerve damage caused by conditions like MS. 

Because of the damage to the nervous system, neurological messages from your brain can no longer correctly travel to and from the targeted muscle groups. FES provides an external signal that triggers muscle movement and helps patients regain some of their lost mobility. 

ETS

EMG-triggered stimulation (ETS) is used specifically for people recovering from a stroke. It detects extremely small electrical EMG signals in paralyzed muscles to initiate electrical stimulation and movement. By using ETS, paralyzed stroke patients can regain some mobility and function. 

RETS

Reciprocal EMG-triggered stimulation (RETS) is intended for patients unable to relax spastic muscles. Rather than using electrical stimulation to trigger a contraction in the muscle group, RETS helps relax spastic muscles. Like ETS, RETS helps previously paralyzed and low-mobility patients regain functionality and movement. 

NMES Devices

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) therapy can help strengthen targeted muscle groups, improve blood flow, and reduce recovery times. 

What Is NMES? 

NMES therapy uses a low-frequency current to stimulate muscles, causing them to contract. This helps improve and maintain muscle strength and endurance. It can also reduce swelling and pain in the targeted muscles. 

What Is NMES Used For? 

NMES therapy is used to strengthen and maintain muscles. Anyone who has had to stay inactive for an extended period can benefit from using an NMES device. 

The device sends electrical signals to muscle groups, creating artificial exercises. This targeted treatment helps your body relax and reduces pain from injuries. 

Because NMES can help safely strengthen targeted muscle groups, it contracts deep lumbar stabilization muscles. These deep tissues are vital to keeping your back healthy. By strengthening them, you can significantly reduce lower back pain caused by poor posture and help strengthen the necessary muscles to prevent future injuries. 

Sports medicine often involves using NMES to strengthen muscles, maintain muscle mass, retrain muscles selectively, and control edema. 

Some conditions treated by NMES include:

 MyoComfort Plus

• Total knee arthroplasty (TKA)
• Dysphagia
• Sciatica
• SI joint pain
• Arthritis
• Muscle spasms
• Fatigue or weakness in muscles
• Stroke rehabilitation
• Musculoskeletal conditions

If you’re suffering from back pain, NMES devices can greatly help. NMES training can aid in activating spinal stabilizing muscles during spinal loading and better pain ratings.

Pros of Using NMES

• Keep Muscles Active During Bedrest - Bedrest doesn’t mean you have to lose muscle strength. Because NMES therapy forces muscles to contract, you can maintain and even improve your muscle strength without overextending and risking additional injuries.

• Improve Muscle Strength - NMES therapy directly stimulates muscles, causing them to contract. When used consistently, this can increase your overall body strength. An NMES device doesn’t replace a regular exercise routine, but it can help improve muscle strength, which can improve mobility and flexibility and help prevent future injuries.
   
• Reduce Recovery Time from Injuries - NMES therapy increases vascularity and helps improve blood flow to the targeted area. Because blood helps transfer important vitamins and nutrients to your muscles while also transporting away waste, improved blood circulation can help reduce injury recovery time. 
  
  
• Improve Mobility - Mobility and strength are closely related and must be balanced. You are at a greater risk of injury if you have too much mobility but not enough strength or too much strength without mobility. 
  
  
• Promote Safe Healing - Sprains, tears, and injuries create weak points in your body that are more prone to future injuries. NMES therapy allows your body to heal and retain strength and mobility without aggravating existing injuries or creating new ones. 
  
  
• Provides Lasting Pain Relief - Instead of just numbing the pain, NMES therapy helps strengthen muscle groups, providing lasting strength to reduce pain over time.
  
  
• Reduce Muscle Spasms - NMES therapy safely controls muscle groups with electrical impulses, telling each muscle when it should contract. This can help normalize spasming muscles, helping them relax. 

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Cons of Using NMES

Side Effects - Some common side effects of using an NMES device include:

• Dizziness
• Muscle spasms
• Headaches
• Discomfort
• Redness and irritation in the treated area
  
  

TENS Devices

A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit is a battery-operated device that treats and relieves acute pain. Find out more about the pros and cons of TENS therapy and how it can be used to reduce back and neck pain. 

What Is TENS? 

TENS therapy is a treatment that can help relieve chronic pain. TENS targets the nervous system and sends low-voltage electrical currents to stimu