Using electrical stimulators for exercise

Electrical muscle stimulation or neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is an option for restoring muscle strength and tone in people undergoing physical therapy and are unable to exercise in the usual manner.

Muscle tone is usually achieved through physically exercising the muscle. The contraction occurs when it receives the message sent from the brain, through the spinal cord to the nerve ending. During the contraction the muscle breaks and it gets rebuilt during the relaxation. The rebuilding strengthens the muscle to accept further electric energy. The NMES by passes the entire the brain- spinal cord-nerve ending pathway and directly activates the muscle.

The NMES conducts the electrical currents at a very safe rate through a self-adhesive electrode to the motor points of the muscle that needs stimulation using low volt current to activate the muscle.

The national Skeletal Muscle research centre claims that the design of the NMES allows it to be specific to the patients need. This is achieved by adjusting the dial on the machine gradually until the patient feels current passing. Higher the muscle setting on the dial, faster is the contraction and relaxation. The electrical current emitted through the rubber contact pads, positioned over the muscles, causes the muscles to tighten as they are aroused by the electrical energy. This functions like passive exercise.

There have been claims of NMES being used to reduce body girth. And reduce weight. This has not been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as yet.

 NMES can also be used to increase blood circulation, relax muscle spasms, prevent disuse atrophy, prevent blood clot in the blood vessels after surgery and increase the range of body movements. It has also been prescribed for pain relief.

EMS &NMES are considered devices under the FDA they regulate all sales of the in the United States of America. This is to ensure that the device is effective and safe particularly as it is intended for use in physical therapy and rehabilitation under the direction of a healthcare professional.

Companies that sell the device directly to the customers need to prove that they are safe and effective to the FDA with relevant data.

The basic concern of the FDA is with the reports of shocks, burns, bruising, skin irritation and pain on use associated with some devices. There have been reports that the device interferes with pacemakers and defibrillators. FDA is also concerned that the leads and cables used should not cause electrocution of the user or the care giver.

Devices that meet FDA premarket requirements automatically are cleared for this the others may or may not be safe and effect.

Slender tone Flex marketed by NeuroTech Inc., an electric muscle stimulatormanufacturer, has been cleared by FDA for over the counter sale.

Problems with EMS can be reported to.

1.    Directly to the manufacturer.
2.    Med Watch, in one of the following ways

a.  http://www.accessdatAnswer:fdAnswer:gov/scripts/medwatch

b.   by telephone at 1-800-FDA-1088

c.  by FAX at 1-800-FDA-0178

d.   by mail to Med Watch, Food and Drug Administration, HF-2, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857