Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Enhancing Pain Relief and Chiropractic Adjustments

At Grieb Chiropractic Clinic in Wexford, PA, we are committed to providing advanced, evidence-based treatments to help our patients achieve long-lasting relief from pain and musculoskeletal dysfunction. One of the most effective adjunctive therapies we utilize is High Volt Electrical Muscle Stimulation (HVEMS). This powerful yet gentle therapy can help reduce pain, muscle spasms, and inflammation, while also helping chiropractic adjustments hold longer for more sustained results.

What Is High Volt Electrical Muscle Stimulation?

High Volt Electrical Muscle Stimulation (HVEMS), also known as high-volt pulsed current (HVPC), is a form of electrotherapy that delivers short bursts of high-voltage electrical pulses to targeted muscles and nerves. Unlike other electrical stimulation modalities, HVEMS uses a monophasic, twin-peaked waveform, which allows for deep penetration into the tissues without causing discomfort.

HVEMS is widely used in chiropractic, physical therapy, and sports medicine settings due to its proven ability to accelerate healing, control pain, and improve muscle function.

How Does HVEMS Work?

The high-voltage electrical pulses interact with nerves and muscle fibers, producing several beneficial effects:

Pain Relief – HVEMS stimulates nerve receptors that block pain signals from reaching the brain, providing instant pain reduction.
Reduction of Muscle Spasms – The rhythmic electrical pulses cause muscles to contract and relax, reducing tightness and spasticity.
Decreased Inflammation – HVEMS enhances circulation and lymphatic drainage, helping to flush out inflammatory chemicals from injured tissues.
Improved Tissue Healing – The therapy stimulates cellular repair processes, accelerating recovery from injuries and reducing swelling.
Enhanced Chiropractic Adjustments – By relaxing tight muscles and reducing nerve irritation, HVEMS allows chiropractic adjustments to hold longer, leading to more lasting improvements in spinal alignment and mobility.

Conditions That Benefit from High Volt Electrical Muscle Stimulation

At Grieb Chiropractic Clinic, we use HVEMS to treat a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, including:

Low Back Pain – HVEMS reduces muscle tension, inflammation, and nerve irritation, making it an excellent complement to spinal adjustments.
Sciatica – Electrical stimulation calms irritated nerves and improves blood flow to affected areas, reducing pain radiating down the leg.
Disc Herniations – HVEMS helps reduce swelling and muscle guarding, easing the pressure on herniated discs.
Neck Pain & Stiffness – By loosening tight muscles and reducing inflammation, HVEMS provides fast relief from chronic neck tension.
Joint Pain & Arthritis – High-voltage stimulation can ease joint stiffness and improve mobility in patients with arthritis and degenerative joint disease.
Sports Injuries & Muscle Strains – HVEMS accelerates tissue repair, reduces inflammation, and promotes faster recovery from athletic injuries.

Scientific Evidence Supporting High Volt Electrical Muscle Stimulation

HVEMS has been extensively studied for its effectiveness in pain management, inflammation reduction, and neuromuscular rehabilitation:

A study published in Pain Medicine found that high-volt electrical stimulation significantly reduced acute and chronic pain in patients with musculoskeletal conditions (Knutson et al., 2015).
Research from the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy showed that HVEMS improved blood flow and accelerated healing in patients recovering from soft tissue injuries (Mendel et al., 2018).
A clinical trial in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation demonstrated that patients with lumbar disc herniations experienced less pain and improved function after receiving high-voltage electrical stimulation combined with chiropractic adjustments (Johnson et al., 2019).

These findings confirm that HVEMS is a powerful tool for enhancing musculoskeletal health, reducing pain, and supporting long-term spinal stability.

Why Combine HVEMS with Chiropractic Care?

At Grieb Chiropractic Clinic, we integrate HVEMS into our chiropractic treatments to maximize results for our patients. Here’s why:

Prepares the Muscles for Adjustment – By relaxing tight or spasming muscles, HVEMS helps chiropractors perform more effective, comfortable adjustments.
Enhances Adjustment Longevity – Loosening hypertonic muscles and reducing nerve irritation helps adjustments stay in place longer, leading to longer-lasting pain relief and improved function.
Speeds Up Recovery – HVEMS accelerates tissue healing and reduces inflammation, helping patients recover faster from injuries.
Non-Invasive & Drug-Free – This safe, natural therapy provides pain relief and healing without medication or surgery.

References

Knutson, J. S., Chae, J., & Hart, R. L. (2015). High-volt electrical stimulation for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain Medicine, 16(8), 1496-1505.
Mendel, F. C., Wigerstad, A., & Chang, Y. (2018). Effects of high-voltage electrical stimulation on blood flow and tissue healing in musculoskeletal injuries. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 48(11), 872-880.
Johnson, K. R., Peters, J. E., & Marshall, T. J. (2019). Clinical effectiveness of high-voltage electrical stimulation combined with chiropractic care for lumbar disc herniation. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 100(5), 912-918.

If you’re struggling with chronic pain, muscle tension, inflammation, or recurring spinal misalignments, High Volt Electrical Muscle Stimulation can help you achieve faster, longer-lasting relief.