I'm a happier person since meeting Dr. Ward! I have had extreme lower back pain for a couple of years and have done everything to try to alleviate it. I was told that it was everything from a groin muscle pull to my lower back starting to curve the wrong direction... but at my first visit to Dr. Ward she knew right away what the problem was and put a plan into action to help me. I've been going to Dr. Ward for about 6 weeks now and have gone from a constant pain at a level 10 to rare pain at a level ... more

Therapies

Electromuscular Stimulation

Electromuscular Stimulation (EMS) was developed to assist in many types of muscle rehabilitation and to prevent muscle degeneration in paralyzed patients, but it has quickly been adapted to other protocols as well.

The technology for EMS is based on the reaction of the body to normal exercise. In healthy exercise, the brain sends a signal through the nerves to the muscles. When the signal reaches the muscle, it triggers a chemical reaction, causing the muscle to contract or twitch. This twitch usually involves several muscular motor points at the same time and is directly related to the intensity of stimulus.

In clinical practice, EMS equipment is generating a weak electric impulse that is used to produce a strong muscular contraction similar to a normal voluntary contraction. In EMS, the number of muscles involved in a contraction can be controlled by the number of electrodes placed on the muscles as well as the location and placement of these electrodes. In general, when the muscles are electrically stimulated their contractile force depends on the amplitude of stimulus which is defined as the duration of the stimulating pulse and its frequency (repetition rate).

Contra-Indications The use of EMS device during pregnancy has not been established as safe. In addition, adequate precautions should be taken for persons with suspected heart problems or epilepsy.

EMS device should not be applied trans-cerebrally, or over the carotid sinus nerves, especially in patients with a known sensitivity to the carotid sinus reflex. EMS device should only be used under physician supervision for adjunctive therapy for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.

In any type of exercise, whether it be passive or active, normal precautions should be observed. However, muscle stimulation treatment should not be given when any of following conditions exist:

In addition to the above, treatment should not be given without physician approval and supervision where any of the following conditions are present:

Very rarely some patients may experience skin irritation or hypersensitivity due to electrical stimulation or electrical conductive medium. The irritation can usually be reduced by use of an alternate conductive medium, or alternate electrode placement.