Electrical Stimulation

Electrical stimulation is one of the most versatile and well-researched therapeutic modalities in physical therapy — capable of reducing pain, reactivating inhibited muscles, decreasing inflammation, and accelerating tissue healing depending on how it is applied. At Fultz Physical Therapy & Joint Rehab, electrical stimulation is used strategically across all three of our locations in South Shreveport, North Shreveport, and South Bossier as part of individualized, diagnosis-specific treatment plans.

What Is Electrical Stimulation?

Electrical stimulation delivers low-level electrical current through electrode pads placed on the skin, producing targeted physiological effects in the underlying muscles, nerves, and tissues. The specific effects are determined by the parameters used — frequency, intensity, waveform, and duration — which your physical therapist selects based on your diagnosis and treatment goals.

Types of Electrical Stimulation We Use

  • Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) – Delivers electrical current at parameters that produce visible muscle contractions, reactivating muscles that have become inhibited following surgery, injury, or prolonged immobility. NMES is particularly valuable in the early phases of post-surgical rehabilitation — for example, following ACL reconstruction or knee replacement — when voluntary muscle activation is significantly impaired
  • Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) – Modulates pain signals at the nerve level using the gate control mechanism, providing effective, drug-free pain relief for both acute and chronic pain conditions
  • Interferential Current (IFC) – Uses two crossing medium-frequency currents to penetrate deeper into tissue than standard TENS, producing therapeutic effects at greater depths for conditions involving deeper structures such as hip joints, lumbar musculature, and shoulder complexes
  • Russian Stimulation – A higher-frequency neuromuscular stimulation protocol used to produce stronger muscle contractions for faster strength recovery in patients following surgery or significant muscle atrophy

What Electrical Stimulation Treats

Electrical stimulation is appropriate for a wide range of conditions including post-surgical muscle inhibition, acute and chronic pain management, muscle atrophy, joint inflammation, tendinopathy, and soft tissue injury recovery. It is frequently combined with other modalities and active treatments to maximize the overall effectiveness of your rehabilitation program.

Restore Function With Targeted Treatment

The team at Fultz Physical Therapy & Joint Rehab is ready to help, with locations in South Shreveport, North Shreveport, and South Bossier, LA serving patients throughout the Shreveport-Bossier area.

Contact us today to request your evaluation and start your path to recovery.