What is a stroke?
Strokes are one of the leading causes of disability in Canada, with one stroke now occurring approximately every five minutes (1). Strokes can have a profound impact on your body, with most affected people experiencing changes in how they move. This happens due to damage to the brain, which normally sends electrical signals to tell your muscles to move. This damage can make it hard to make your muscles contract, and in some cases can cause a complete loss of movement.
This is where electrical stimulation might help!
What is electrical stimulation?
There are many different types of electrical stimulation out there. One of the most common types used for stroke treatment is called neuromuscular electrical stimulation, or NMES for short. NMES works by placing non-invasive electrodes on the skin over muscles that are not working well. The electrodes then send a mild electrical current to the muscles, causing them to contract.
The true benefit of NMES comes from trying to activate your muscles yourself with the electrical stimulation. This helps to restore the connection from your brain to your affected muscles. The nervous system is amazingly adaptable and capable of recovery despite damage to certain nervous system pathways resulting from a stroke. NMES is a powerful tool to help with this process!
Electrical stimulation and physiotherapy
Research has shown that NMES is most effective when combined with physiotherapy and exercise (2). NMES can be combined with other treatment techniques to work towards a range of goals by improving muscle weakness, walking, and hand function. NMES devices can also be used at home to complement your home exercise program. It is important to optimize settings and electrode placements with a physiotherapist or other trained healthcare professional before home use.
If you have questions about how NMES could play a role in your stroke recovery, contact us!
– Kelsey Vickers, Registered Physiotherapist
Click here to book with Kelsey!
References
- Holodinsky, Jessalyn K., et al. “Estimating the number hospital or emergency department presentations for stroke in Canada.” Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences (2022): 1-18.
- Ng, Shamay SM, and Christina WY Hui-Chan. “Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation combined with task-related training improves lower limb functions in subjects with chronic stroke.” Stroke 38.11 (2007): 2953-2959.
