Electrical muscle stimulation is the excitation of muscles via the use of electrical muscle contractions. Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) has received increasing attention in the last few years because of its potential to serve as a strength training tool for healthy subjects and athletes, a rehabilitation and preventive tool for partially or totally immobilized patients, a testing tool for evaluating the neural and/or muscular function in vivo, and a post-exercise recovery tool for athletes.

We primarily utilize electrical muscle stimulation for pain relief. Electrical muscle stimulation acts by stimulating our bodies’ natural opioids or pain hormones to provide immediate pain relief. Individuals suffering from reduced range of motion of joints can also benefit from electrical muscle stimulation therapy. Current research has supported the use of topical moist heat over the applied electrical muscle stimulation pads on the skin.