The Science of Electrical Muscle Stimulation

The benefits of moderate-to-high intensity multiple muscle electrical stimulation is based on solid and extensive research. The FDA electrical muscle stimulator clearance describes the effects as increased regional blood flow, muscle re-education, reduced muscle spasms, pain management, and prevention of disuse muscle atrophy. This results in improved coordination and increased synovial fluid production, as well as increased lubrication to the fibers of local tendons and ligaments and oxygen and nutrients to the muscles.

The Neuro20 Approach

The Neuro20 PRO System features a Whole Body Electrical Muscle Stimulation (WB-EMS) Smart Suit and supporting software platform designed to be powerful, versatile, and tolerable, providing optimal results for recovery and human performance. With 4 main programs and 9 additional modes—each designed for NMES, FES, and PENS—the Neuro20 PRO System provides a multipurpose, single or multi-patient platform that offers clinicians and trainers broad options for client care.

The Neuro20 PRO System is the first wearable of its kind, delivering a rectangular-shaped symmetrical biphasic waveform with a maximum power density of 100mW/cm2 per channel with a maximum of 20 channels acting independently of one another. The Neuro20 PRO System utilizes low & middle-range frequency electrical muscle stimulation to create a motor neuron recruitment of muscle fiber (involuntary contraction), thereby bypassing the neural pathway that occurs during voluntary muscle recruitment.

The physiological benefits of Electrical Muscle Stimulation are:

Neural
Plasticity

Reverses signal through the neural pathway and motor chain

Norepinephrine Increase

During the warm-up phase (first 5-minutes) – vasoconstriction

ACh
Increase

(After 5-minutes) – vasodilation with ~ 30% increase at the microcapillary level

Increased
Blood Flow

Promotes healing, joint recovery, increases tissue temp, synovial fluid, metabolic flushing

Pain
Management

Reduces inflammation and promotes relaxation of muscle spasms, while limiting impact on ligaments, tendons, & joints

Increased Lactate Production

Causes positive effects for VO2 consumption

Motor
Re-Education

Extremity activation and core stabilization, full recruitment vs. AMI, increases burst & endurance without pain

BDNF
Production

At the post-time Serum BDNF highest from NMES, significantly higher than voluntary exercise (Wantanabe, Gordon, 2011)

Types Of Electrical Stimulation

NMES occurs when current passes through the electrodes into the body, and the motor nerves are stimulated, causing a muscle contraction. The intensity and frequency of stimulation can vary based on the level of muscular function and response to treatment.

FES is a form of NMES. FES targets muscle fibers related to functional movements, such as targeting muscles associated with sitting, walking, or grasping an object. Clients generally undergo FES training under the guidance of a therapist for rehabilitation; however, FES therapy can also be utilized for mastering a sport-specific athletic movement.
TENS uses an electrical current to stimulate the nerves for therapeutic purposes. TENS stimulates the sensory nerves, suppressing the pain signals sent to the brain to relieve the user. TENS changes the perception of the brain to ignore the pain for a short time by applying a non-painful stimulus to the same area.
Precise timing patterns that the nervous system applies to muscles, PEMS replicates these timing patterns through various programs and training modes. The Neuro20 PRO System can stimulate up to 40 muscles in a pattern, artificially creating a motor chain and replicating movement patterns unlike any system before.

Neuro20 Technologies announces the FDA-clearance of the Neuro20 PRO System for treatment of neuromuscular injury and disease, becoming the first US-based company to produce an FDA-cleared medical electrical muscle stimulation textile that closes the loop between diagnostics and interventions in a wireless operating system.