Physiotherapist using electro muscular stimulation to help recovery

What Is Electro Neuromuscular Stimulation (EMS)?

EMS involves the use of small electrical impulses to stimulate muscles and nerves. Physios use this treatment as these impulses mimic the natural signals your brain sends to your muscles, prompting them to contract and relax. This therapy is non-invasive, safe, and often used alongside traditional physiotherapy techniques to enhance outcomes- particularly after surgery.

How Could EMS Support Your Recovery?

EMS is a versatile tool that we use at BOOST PHYSIO to help rehabilitation. Here are some of the ways it can help our patients:

1. Improving Muscle Strength and Function

After an injury or surgery, muscles weaken very quickly due to pain, disuse and immobilisation. We use EMS to help maintain and rebuild muscle strength by using electrical stimulation to help activate specific muscle groups, even when you’re unable to perform full movements yourself.

2. Reducing Pain

EMS can help manage pain by stimulating the release of endorphins—your body’s natural painkillers. It can also block pain signals from reaching the brain, providing relief and allowing you to engage more effectively in your recovery program.

3. Enhancing Circulation

The rhythmic contractions triggered by EMS improve blood flow to the treated area. This promotes healing by delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues while flushing out waste products.

4. Preventing Muscle Atrophy

Prolonged pain or inactivity after injury or surgery leads to muscle atrophy, where muscle tissue wastes away. BOOST PHYSIO use EMS to help prevent this by keeping muscles active and engaged, even during periods of limited mobility.

Hampstead physio Travis using EMS help recovery after surgery

Who Can Benefit From EMS?

EMS is used by our team at BOOST PHYSIO to benefit a range of patients, including those recovering from:

  • After surgery post-op: eg knee surgery, ACL reconstruction, ankle surgery
  • After fractures
  • Sports injury treatment
  • Disuse muscle atrophy
  • Peripheral nerve injury

What Does An EMS Session Feel Like?

During an EMS session, your physio places small sticky electrode pads on your skin over the targeted muscle groups. You’ll feel a gentle tingling sensation (similar to pins and needles) as the electrical impulses are delivered into your muscles. The intensity can be adjusted to suit your comfort level and treatment goals. While your muscles are being stimulated your physio will guide you through specific exercises to do to maximise the benefit and the recovery of your muscles.

Click here to watch a video here of how EMS being used by Travis at BOOST PHYSIO to help a patient recover.

Why Choose BOOST PHYSIO For EMS Treatment?

At BOOST PHYSIO, our expert physiotherapists integrate EMS into personalised treatment plans designed to meet your unique recovery needs. We use advanced equipment and evidence-based techniques to help you achieve optimal results. We never use EMS on its own- EMS is part of a patients

EMS is just one of the many tools we use to empower our patients on their journey to recovery. Whether you’re an athlete looking to get back on the field or someone recovering from surgery, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

EMS treatment is not for everyone, nor is it used for every condition. Like all physiotherapy treatments used at BOOST PHYSIO, every patient’s injury, condition and goals are carefully assessed to create the bespoke customised treatment plans to help their recovery. EMS cannot be used with patients who have electrical implants like pacemakers or inplanted stimulators.