When and Why Chiropractors Use Electric Muscle Stimulation

In addition to providing traditional chiropractic methods, Reiss Chiropractic provides a number of adjunctive modality therapies that are used in conjunction with traditional spinal adjustments. If you’re asking yourself, “What in the world is a modality?” here is the scientific answer:  

According to chiro.org, a modality is, “any physical agent applied to produce therapeutic changes or biologic tissues; this includes but not limited to thermal, acoustic, light, mechanical, or electric energy.”

In other words, this is a therapy where a machine provides therapy by emitting energy versus a chiropractor giving a standard adjustment with their hands (or maybe their feet too if you’re into that).

The “Pre-Adjustment” Treatment

One modality that Reiss Chiropractic provides is electric muscle stimulation. Commonly known as EMS, this therapy is used before a traditional spinal adjustment if the patient exhibits pain, spasms in the muscles, soreness in their tendons. Your chiropractor will determine if this is a beneficial treatment during your preliminary consultation. EMS uses a machine which is connected to electrodes, or pads that adhere to the skin.

The muscles contract as a reaction to the electric current passing through the tissue, causing a training of muscle fibers. Depending on the intensity and type of EMS used, different fibers can be activated. The immediate results are pain relief in the muscle or tendon, which relaxes them for the traditional chiropractic adjustment.

The Two Major EMS Uses

Depending on the patient, EMS is beneficial for therapeutic or training purposes. In a chiropractic setting, EMS is used for rehab to prevent muscle atrophy that occurs after an injury affecting the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

Athletes can also benefit from EMS treatments to enhance strength training because as the muscles contract, there is a reduction in future fatigue and an increase in physical endurance. EMS can also be used post-exercise.

EMS Machines Are A-Okay For Patients

Don’t worry, these devices are regulated by the Food & Drug Administration. All of the modality treatments Reiss Chiropractic uses are state-of-the-art and most importantly, safe for the patients. To learn more about electric muscle stimulation and to see if it is an appropriate treatment for you, contact our office today!