Search

Search

Electrical stimulation - NMES and TENS

Electrical stimulation - NMES and TENS

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation (TENS) involves the use of electrical stimulation to both strengthen muscles and for pain relief.

This non-painful and non-invasive therapeutic technique is performed by placing electrode pads against the pet’s skin or coat with a conductivity gel to deliver a low level electrical current.

At higher frequencies, NMES is used to stimulate motor nerve fibres of weak muscles which results in muscle contraction to help in the strengthening of the muscle. NMES is most often used in patients that are too weak to move certain muscle groups – muscles that has atrophied due to disuse after injury or from neurological disease.

At lower frequencies, TENS stimulates sensory nerve fibres which block the signal of pain, resulting in pain relief. TENS can be used alongside prescribed medication to provide pain relief to pets with acute or chronic pain conditions.

TENS units and the necessary accessories for use in pets are available for hire or purchase to Paws in Motion clients.

More information about how TENS works can be found here