Electrical stimulation (e-stim) is used in hand therapy to assist in the rehabilitation of patients with hand and wrist conditions. There are different kinds of electrical stimulation that each function in unique methods that lend themselves to the treatment of various hand disorders. Each hand therapist will help to determine which of the following types would be suited for each individual patient’s needs.

Interferential Current

Interferential Current (IFC) is arguably the most common type of e-stim used for hand pain relief. Electrodes are placed on the skin surrounding the patient’s painful area of the hand or wrist and an electrical current runs between a pair of electrodes to interfere with the pain message that their body is sending to the brain. This results in pain relief for conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and post-surgical hand procedures. A typical IFC treatment for the hand lasts between ten and thirty minutes however a carry-over effect has been shown to occur providing some degree of hand pain relief, continuing for a few hours after the treatment concludes.

Neuro-Muscular Electrical Stimulation

Neuro-Muscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) is used to re-educate and re-establish communication between the nerves and muscles of the hand and forearm. NMES increases circulation to the hand, relaxes muscle spasms in the fingers and wrist, and improves the quality of fine motor contractions. Electrodes are placed on specific hand and forearm muscle groups and the electrical current is adjusted to an intensity that causes the muscle to contract. This restores proper firing mechanics which are needed to prevent atrophy in the intrinsic hand muscles and it provides a solid foundation for grip and pinch strength rehabilitation.

Russian Stimulation

Similar to NMES, Russian Stimulation uses a higher-frequency electrical current to increase hand muscle size and endurance. With the electrodes positioned on the hand and forearm muscles, the patient is instructed to perform a hand exercise (such as finger opposition or grip) simultaneously with the electrical muscle contraction. This co-contraction fires the hand muscles with increased intensity which strengthens the muscles and accelerates recovery of hand function. This form of e-stim helps patients regain dexterity and functional use of the hand following injury or surgery.