Electrical cell stimulation (ECS)

Purpose:

The over-riding purpose of cell membrane stimulation is repair of musculoskeletal damage, including:

  • Improved overall circulation

  • Improved local blood circulation, oxygen and nutrient availability

  • Elimination of waste fluid, reduction of swelling and inflammation

  • Break-down and removal of scar tissue

  • Maintaining or increasing the range of joint movement

If the patient is immobile, cell activity may be induced through massage, stretching or through electrical stimulation. Electrical stimulation can be applied outside the clinic on a daily basis.

How it works

The application of electrical stimulation (or electrotherapy) can supplement or replace the natural occurring action potential of sensory and motor nerves, cell membranes and muscle fibre.

At the appropriate pulse frequency and width, externally applied electrotherapy disturbs the ionic balance across excitable membranes, stimulating nerves, muscles and cells.

Stretching

A program of passive or active muscle stretching fulfills a similar role - maintaining cell activity around the injury site without undue strain on damaged tissue.

Stretching and electrical stimulation can be used in combination for additional benefit. 

More sustained cell activity leads to better results.

To aid injury recovery

Over recent decades many medical research studies have revealed that inactivity of the body:

  • slows the metabolism

  • inhibits healthy levels of cell membrane activity

  • holds back injury recovery and healing times

However, sometimes it is necessary to rest an injury - to avoid pain and further damage.

Under these circumstances compromised electrical activity can be supplemented with externally applied electrical stimulation, by using a SportsMed or SportsMed PRO product.

This will help to maintain normal levels of electrical activity, therefore circulating blood effectively and bringing adequate supplies of oxygen and nutrients to the site of the injury.

Benefits

The many benefits of SportsMed Recover mode include:

  • Increased cell activity - to aid rapid repair

  • Reduced muscle soreness after strenuous activity

  • Circulation of blood, oxygen, peptides and other nutrients

  • Reduced oedema (swelling)

  • Removal of waste material and toxins, e.g. after bruising, pain related chemicals

  • Reduced joint stiffness - by breaking down scar tissue

Electrodes are placed on either side of the injury.

For settings and treatment times follow the program guidelines in the User Guide or the Treatment Times page of this website.

Effectiveness

Accumulated clinical research shows that regular electro therapy treatment approximately halves the time required to repair a soft tissue injury.