At Valeo, we offer additional therapies that go above and beyond a chiropractic adjustment, especially when dealing with an injury or pain. I’ve been using Electrical Stimulation (e-stim) as a Chiropractor for over 15 years, both for myself and for my patients, as part of my treatment to help manage pain naturally and recover from injuries faster.
So what is e-stim? E-stim is just what it sounds like: using electrical currents to stimulate nerves and muscles. This is done by placing electrodes on the skin in a specific area.
Now that you know what e-stim is, you might be wondering: should I be using it? In short, if you have pain, the answer is YES!
Ways You May Benefit from E-stim
Pain Relief
- E-stim can block pain signals traveling to the brain (like a natural painkiller).
- It also triggers the release of endorphins (your body’s own pain-relieving chemicals).
Muscle Relaxation
- It can calm down tight or spasming muscles
- By relaxing muscles, it also makes adjustments easier and more comfortable.
Reduced Inflammation & Swelling
- Certain settings help increase circulation and lymphatic flow, which can decrease swelling around injured tissues.
Faster Healing
- By improving blood flow, e-stim helps bring oxygen and nutrients to the area, speeding up tissue repair.
Improved Muscle Function
- If muscles are weak or inhibited after injury, stimulation can “re-educate” them and restore proper activation patterns.
Complement to Chiropractic Adjustments
- Adjustments improve joint movement, while e-stim calms irritated muscles and nerves.
- Together, they can make the results last longer and feel more complete.
Can It Only be Performed at the Clinic?
At times, I will recommend patients use e-stim at home, usually in the form of a TENS unit. This would be slightly different than the Interferential Current I use in the office and I find myself always explaining the differences:
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)
- Purpose: Primarily used for pain relief.
- Mechanism: Applies low-frequency, low-intensity pulses through the skin to stimulate sensory nerves, blocking pain perception and encouraging endorphin release.
- Feel: Tingling or buzzing on the skin, but generally comfortable.
- Use: Often for chronic or acute pain, easy for patients to use at home.
Interferential Current (IFC)
- Purpose: Pain relief (like TENS), but with the added ability to penetrate deeper tissues.
- Mechanism: Uses two medium-frequency currents that intersect (interfere) in the tissues. Where they meet, they create a therapeutic low-frequency effect that reaches deeper nerves and muscles without irritating the skin.
- Feel: Smoother, less prickly than TENS—patients often find it more comfortable.
- Use: Common in physical therapy for musculoskeletal pain, post-surgical pain, or deep joint/muscle issues.
Key Differences
To Summarize: TENS is great for surface-level pain relief and home use, while IFC that we do at our office delivers deeper, more comfortable stimulation for larger or deeper problem areas.
Ask me about e-stim the next time you are in the office and I can help you find the best way to add it to your care!
