Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

A study of the use of home-based neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for the purpose of improving quadricep strength in older adults with knee osteoarthritis has produced promising results. Osteoarthritis, often referred to as “wear-and-tear” arthritis, can be helped by improving the muscle strength around the joint or joints involved. Exercise has been shown to improve the symptoms,...

Electrical Muscle Stimulation 101

Electrical Muscle Stimulation, also known as EMS, is a very popular way to stimulate the muscles and prevent muscle atrophy. Some patients need it desperately, that’s why a lot of doctors use it on a regular basis. EMS is good when the patient has been suffering from strong injuries and is put to bed for a long time. Muscle atrophy can be a consequence of this, so electrical muscle stimulation is...

Diathermy: Comeback, or New Technology?

An electrically induced therapy modality enjoys a resurgence. Shortwave diathermy, an electrically induced heat application, is thought to be relatively new in the world of rehabilitation and therapy. On the contrary; diathermy has actually been around for quite awhile, although it fell out of fashion for a time. “I was trained as a PT back in the 70s with the full expectation that shortwave...

Canadian Diathermy

Short-wave diathermy is one of the most popular treatment modalities used to relieve pain through localized heating. In Canada its use in hospitals is as frequent as that of ultrasonic therapy devices and about 10 times more popular than microwave diathermy. Intensities of the electric and magnetic fields around applicators of 7 different diathermy units were measured at the operator position and at...