Electrical Stimulation, Many questions Options

[tallgirl]

Ok guys, here I am with another question....

I heard of the many benefits of electrical stimulation and I would like to get and use an EMS machine, although the physios are against it saying I might be burned...I just have to convince them I guess.
I would like to know how you guys are using these machines, where you got them...especially people in the UK as I'm in Ireland myself and what benefits you find in using them...I heard of a T4 para who uses them on his abs and can do crunches as a result...that sounds awesome.

Thanks for reading and replying

[edlee]

McCann,, where are you???

There is a person on this site who has , himself, gotten great value from electrical stimulation,, He has some definite ideas on the subject, and would be the one you want to talk to about this.

Others , here, have had some experience, also,, but he seems to have had the most.

Use the search and look for posts by McCann,, you can decide for yourself, then.
ed

[Slowlegs]

Yes, in spite of what I and others say about or to Mc Cann, if you are after someone who knows about this sort of product, check him out. Just check with your physio to make sure that you don't get physically or financially burned. A lot of companies seem to sell the NMES machines and their quality and pricing probably varies greatly.

You may also see a few heated discussions on here with McCann but they are more about his delivery of the information rather than specifically the product manufacturer McCann promotes. I can't recall him offering up any web based info or some such but I have seen him mention a number to call of a place he recommends which is the same machine he used in his recovery.

[McCann]

Here I am and the info is in a new topic post in here, hope its ok/properly written?

[The Black Sheep]

I bought a TENS unit on ebay a few years back, which has 4 of these little sticky pads that you place anywhere on your muscles and it zaps them. The have different pulses and patterns that you can adjust. I don't know if it's the same time of device, but it's electrical stimulation. I found that if I put 2 just below my knees, on the inner part of the leg, I can lift my ankles a little better. When I'm on an exercise bike, I can pull my leg back up better as well.

I have a jimmy-rigged bicycle with the arm handles that are connected to the petals, so when I move the arms, it forces the legs to go in circles. I bolted shoes to the petals and strap the feet in so they don't get loose. I can use the legs an iddy-biddy bit, but the TENS unit makes it just a little bit easier. I've never tried doing situps before with it, but I've put them on my belly before. I don't have full use of my diaphram, and the electrical unit makes it a little harder to breathe. I think it's because my abs tighten, loosen, tighten, loosen... I dunno, it just makes it a little more difficult.

This post has been edited by The Black Sheep: Nov 4 2009, 10:05 PM

[Illinois Boy]

I had a real expensive unit I used on my hands for a couple of years after my SCI.......
It did keep my fingers more limber, but was such a pain in the ass and time consuming, so I stopped.....

Jim