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Physiotherapy vocabulary · Electrotherapy and Physical Agents

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation

Meaning in physiotherapy, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In physiotherapy, neuromuscular electrical stimulation means: The use of electrical pulses through pads on the skin to make muscles contract, often to help strengthen weak muscles.

In Turkish: nöromüsküler elektriksel stimülasyon, NMES

How it is used

Usually shortened to NMES. It differs from TENS, which aims to reduce pain rather than make muscles contract. Common uses include quadriceps weakness after knee surgery and helping ankle movement after stroke. When it is timed to help a task such as walking, it is called functional electrical stimulation (FES).

Example sentences

  1. We're using neuromuscular electrical stimulation to wake up his quadriceps after the operation.

  2. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation can feel strange at first, because the muscle tightens on its own.

Common collocations

  • NMES unit
  • quadriceps stimulation
  • functional electrical stimulation
  • electrode placement
  • TENSShort for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation: a small battery-powered device that sends mild electrical pulses through pads on the skin to reduce pain.
  • electrotherapyTreatment that uses electrical energy or electrically powered devices, such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound or laser, to reduce pain, support healing or make muscles work.
  • atrophyA loss of muscle size and strength, most often because a muscle has not been used, for example after time in a cast or in bed.
  • strengtheningExercise that makes muscles stronger by asking them to work against a load, such as body weight, an elastic band or weights.

More terms: Electrotherapy and Physical Agents

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