I dont think the electric stim works that well unless u are going to get one of those stim machines that the physical therapists use and even then its hard to say if it will actually work u out to the point it would actually get a net gain from it.
I'm a kinesiology major and looking to go into physical therapy so I am a firmiliar with the equiptment but only in terms of attaching it to muscle thats atrophying due to loss of innervation ability. I hope for your wifes sake that I am wrong as well!! However any stim to the area will have some effect, in terms of the actual strength of the contraction I know it increases with increased levels of the e-stim. I do not really know if its as strong as a real contraction (ab workouts). I hope it works out for you, I will ask my professor today (im in a neurology class) and let you know what he says about stimulation of muscle fiber using e-stim and the effects. Either way I dont think its realy studied but I hope to come back with some useful information for you!
What type of hip problem is it and what type of exercises can't she do?
Ok he said in terms of a direct corralation between e-stim and muscle strength (other than functionality) or hypertrophy has not been established. However he did mention that it is more or less likely that the use of e-stim for muscles that cannot be trained due to injury will retain and possibly keep the strength of those muscles, I am not aware of what type of EMS system u have i couldnt be more specific about the equiptment. He says that it will work for keeping the muscle strength maybe a little strength over long term use. So what he said is definately more positive than what i had thought im glad i asked him! He did say if there was any possible way for her to exercise it is obviously the best but this is a good way to keep the muscle funtional and strength the same. Good lukc I hoped that helped!!!
HAHA well its my major and since I have a professor who is an MD in neuroscience I figured he would be able to answer ur question because we actually went over artificial/extrenal enviromental factors to stimulate muscle spindles/pre and post synaptic terminals for muscle contraction. Hope it helped you out!
