My husband was injured in 1985. Not long after he began rehab, he bought a Neuro-Muscular Stimulator. I don't know what they are called now, b/c he still has his original unit and it's been collecting dust lately.
I'm trying to get him back on a schedule for using it and he knows he needs to also. A couple of years ago, he was involved in a study through Arizona State University sponsored by the Fulton School of Engineering. I posted a link to the magazine article on here, but the link is no longer any good.
My hubby was testing a new electrical stimulator being developed. It was used on his legs. There were 4 adhesive pads that I would stick onto his thighs and with each zap/pulse, it would lift his lower leg up slightly and by the time the session was over (about 45 minutes) his lower leg would be fully extended.
After each session the machine would congratulate him and let him know he was ready for the next level. This meant adding a 1/2 lb. weight onto these straps wrapped around his ankles. There were 7 - 1/2 lb. weights for each leg.
The study went on for 3 months. After doing 12 sessions at home, he would go to ASU and they would take the computer chip out to monitor the data and he would come home and start all over again.
As far as burns go, you just have to do it in moderation. My husband has red marks where the pads are placed, but they usually go away by the end of the day.
He did benefit from the study. He gained 9 lbs of muscle in his legs.
For some quads it might be difficult to place the pads where they need to go, but since you are a para, you should be able to easily put them in place.
The unit my husband tested had peel and stick pads, but with the one that's been collecting dust, we use KY jelly as a conductor and sometimes use athletic tape to keep them in place.
I'm going to get him back on schedule b/c it does help strengthen his muscles and we plan to add more protein to his diet so he will gain most of his muscles back that he lost from losing a lot of weight the past few years.
Here's a pic of Mr. Hapa in 1992, so 7 years post injury. I didn't know him when he was injured. We didn't get together until early 1991, but I've seen pics of him after he got out of the hospital and he was pretty thin. A lot of PT, weight lifting and my good cooking got him to this point.
The next pic is from the magazine for the ASU study he did. You can tell he lost a lot of weight. He's 6'2" and in the first pic he weighs about 190 lbs. and in the last pic he weighs maybe about 140.
Maybe you should talk to a physiatrist about what you should get and how it should be used. Good luck!
Edited by Hapahowlee, 04 May 2010 - 08:31 PM.
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