# Physical Therapy Question: Is "Electrical Stimulation" the Bunk? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 18, 2002, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346 "2002-11-18T18:04:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/1 "2002-11-18T18:04:42Z")
I’m having physical therapy for my broken elbow, and today the therapist hooked me up to two electrodes and sent pulses through my arm, “to help blood flow and relax the muscles.” We also did some exercises. So, is this just banana oil, or does this really do some good? Not the exercises, of course, the zapping. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/2 "2002-11-18T19:27:19Z")
Electrical stimulation is a well documented medical intervention. The TENS (transcutaneal electrical nerve stimulator) has been used to interfere with the nerve signals that transmit pain. That is used to lessen pain. Ultrasound has been used to enhance healing processes. I would trust your PT. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/3 "2002-11-18T19:33:50Z")
Oh, good, thanks. Just wanted to make sure he wasn’t trying any hippie-tree-huggin’-holistic crapola on me. [Wonder if fridge magnets will stick to my arm now that I get metal in it?] ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/4 "2002-11-18T20:00:01Z")
Magnetic therapy, OTOH, has not been proven. There is much controversey as to whether it works. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/5 "2002-11-18T20:09:55Z")
Oh, I wasn’t thinking of magnetic _therapy_—just thought I now might have a whole new jewelry option. ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/6 "2002-11-18T20:51:55Z")
Was the PT also using the electrodes to stimulate muscle growth? I’ve seen respectable physiotherapists use those to build muscles (e.g. when I ran a lot, the muscles on the inside of my leg were much weaker than the outside, causing knee alignment problems). However, the very similar looking “electro-stim” devices hawked in many infomercials (“Do the equivalent of 500 sit-ups in an hour…while watching TV!”) have been debunked on this board and elsewhere. So what’s the Straight Dope? Do these electric muscle stimulators do anything? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/7 "2002-11-18T20:59:11Z")
No, he said he was just doing it to promote blood flow and relax the muscles before I exercised. I may have some nerve damage from the surgery and all the swelling, and I still can’t bend my elbow very far, or lift anything with that arm. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/8 "2002-11-18T21:06:42Z")
Eve, They tried that on my back and it sent me into a two day fit of back spasms, so while it didn’t help me theraputically, it certainly had SOME effect on me. I hope you’re feeling all better soon and can use that arm to beat small children with your parasol on the streets! ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/9 "2002-11-18T21:42:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*Oh, I wasn’t thinking of magnetic _therapy_—just thought I now might have a whole new jewelry option. \*\* To go along with your magnetic personality? ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/10 "2002-11-18T21:52:10Z")
Well, they did it on my ankle, too…also to increase circulation, which was a big issue at the time, as I’d been non-weight bearing for quite a long time. So if your therapist is a flake, he/she has lots of company. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/11 "2002-11-18T22:40:56Z")
Ditto here - I had it done on my forearm for chronic tendonitis. Certainly helped - each time it felt wonderful afterwards, and although there wasn’t a a “cure,” I no longer have the shooting pain in my elbow. ---
**Author:** ![jmpride62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@jmpride62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmpride62)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/12 "2002-11-19T00:32:29Z")
When I was in rehab, my PTs used it as well. I was too injured to do much in the early days so they electrically stimulated my muscles to reduce atrophy. ---
**Author:** ![cmburns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@cmburns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmburns)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/13 "2002-11-19T01:30:38Z")
I had the pads hooked up to my neck, shoulders, and back following a car accident. The therapist said it was mainly to act as a relaxant as those muscles were very tight. It was used in conjunction with alternating cold/hot packs. It certainly felt good, like a strong massage, very effective at loosening all the knots. I think the banana oil factor only comes in when someone tells you that the technology that is effective for therapy can be used to give yourself a complete workout while you sit on the couch scarfing Pringles. ---
**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/14 "2002-11-19T02:03:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by barbitu8 \* > \*\*Electrical stimulation is a well documented medical intervention. The TENS (transcutaneal electrical nerve stimulator) has been used to interfere with the nerve signals that transmit pain. That is used to lessen pain. Ultrasound has been used to enhance healing processes. I would trust your PT. \*\* Maybe, but this doesn’t seem to be anywhere near as cut & dried as you make it out to be. In this thread: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=142617](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=142617) I posted a response to a similar question. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RJKUgly \* > \*\*This is probably going to get into Great Debate territory, but it’s not going to be easy to answer that particular question. > > There seems to be a bunch of anecdotal evidence that these devices are effective at reducing pain, but the few studies I can find references to seem to indicate their value is limited to the placebo effect. > > Check out a few of these links: > > [http://www.umanitoba.ca/colleges/cps/Guidelines\_and\_Statements/333.html](http://www.umanitoba.ca/colleges/cps/Guidelines_and_Statements/333.html) > > [http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/painpag/Acutrev/Other/AP019.html](http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/painpag/Acutrev/Other/AP019.html) > [http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/painpag/Chronrev/Other/CP074.html](http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/painpag/Chronrev/Other/CP074.html) > [http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/painpag/Acutrev/labour/AP001.html](http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/painpag/Acutrev/labour/AP001.html) > > [http://www.stat.washington.edu/TALARIA/LS4.2.3.html](http://www.stat.washington.edu/TALARIA/LS4.2.3.html) > > [http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v281n9/abs/jpc90000.html](http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v281n9/abs/jpc90000.html) > > That last one seems to be a summary of a study published in JAMA about a therapy called PENS, or Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. I actually haven’t any idea exactly what that is, but in this study it seems to have had better success than no treatment, TENS, or exercise for treating lower back pain. In reference to TENS, it seems to show (as the other studies did) that the result was similar to no treatment (in this case the sham PENS). > > So the question of their efficacy doesn’t seem to be completely resolved, but I am always leery of anything where the majority of the support comes from people who sell it or from customer testimonials, especially when combined with less than glowing reports from properly controlled studies. > > Ugly \*\* Based on what I’ve seen, “well documented” may be an overstatement. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/15 "2002-11-19T20:53:17Z")
I said “well documented medical intervention.” I did not say that its efficacy is well documented. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/16 "2002-11-19T20:58:24Z")
Well, he only does the electrical stuff for ten miutes, so as long as it doesn’t actually hurt . . . Most of the session, we do stretching exercises, which I also do 2x a day at home. Elbow still aches like hell, but I expect it will for awhile. The damnbroken ribs hurt like a sonofabitch; v. difficult finding a comfortable sleeping position! I looked up “rib fractures” online, and found, “Rib fractures usually take four to six weeks to heal. Patients can expect a gradual decrease in pain over that time, but with a costochondral cartilage separation, recovery time can be as much as twice as long. Rib fractures cannot be put in casts, so management is a concern. _The patient still needs to breathe, but this will add to the pain”_ (italics mine!). ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/17 "2002-11-19T23:31:17Z")
Eve? you have me wondering… exactly what kind of metal do they use when they insert things into the human body? anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/18 "2002-11-20T01:50:40Z")
**Osip** , titanium or stainless steel. For what it’s worth, I was given a TENS unit when recovering from nerve damage. My leg felt like it was on fire until I used it. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/19 "2002-11-20T04:19:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*_The patient still needs to breathe, but this will add to the pain”_ (italics mine!). \*\* Well alrighty then, Eve - the pain is within your control! ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346/20 "2002-11-20T06:02:55Z")
I’ve had the shock-box a few times for my shoulder, and it does help loosen up the muscles. (Aside to **Osip** and any other potential travellers: The replacement joint sets off the airport metal detectors at Vancouver, but no US airports I’ve been to. Strange!) **Eve** , I had some broken ribs a few years back, and found that I could only sleep sitting up in a big armchair. Best wishes for a speedy recovery! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-therapy-question-is-electrical-stimulation-the-bunk/137346.md?page=2)