LG TEC Multi Instruction Manual page 5

which determine which impulses are allowed to continue on to
the brain. The gates prevent the brain from receiving too much
information too quickly. Since the same nerve cannot carry a
pain and a non-pain impulse at the same time, the stronger,
non-pain impulse from the device "controls the gate." The
second method of pain control is the endorphin release method.
The device can be set to trigger the body's natural pain killers,
called endorphins. These chemicals interact with receptors,
blocking the perception of pain. This is similar to the way the
pharmaceutical drug morphine works, but without the side effect
associated with morphine. No matter which pain control method
is employed, the Device has been proven useful in pain
management. By reading this manual and carefully following
the treatment instructions provided by your clinician, you can
attain maximum benefit from your device.
What is EMS?
EMS (Electrical muscle stimulation) is achieved by sending
small electrical impulses through the skin to the underlying
motor units (nerves and muscles) to create an involuntary
muscle contraction. Neuromuscular stimulation has many
usesbeyond its traditional application to prevent disuse atrophy.
How does EMS work?
Because the transdermal stimulation of nerves and muscles
may be accomplished by electrical pulses, this modality can
help prevent disuse atrophy. Accordingly, incapacitated patients
can receive therapeutic treatment to create involuntary muscle
contractions thereby improving and maintaining muscle tone
without actual physical activity.
The goal of electrical muscle stimulation is to achieve
contractions or vibrations in the muscles. Normal muscular
activity is controlled by the central and peripheral nervous
systems, which transmit electrical signals to the muscles. EMS
works similarly but uses an external source (the stimulator) with
electrodes attached to the skin for transmitting electrical
impulses into the body. The impulses stimulate the nerves to
send signals to a specifically targeted muscle, which reacts by
contracting, just as it does with normal muscular activity.
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