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Suggested Protocols For Acclimating The
Body To Muscle Stimulation
Patients using NMES for the first time, or those who have
been away from it for a while, should exercise caution.
Any form of electrical stimulation that induces muscle
contraction, even if that contraction is of low force, may
make your muscles sore for a period of time. This soreness
may be unavoidable until your body becomes used to
the increased activity of the stimulated muscle(s) and
surrounding muscle groups. This process may take two or
more weeks.
Wearable Therapy Systems are medical devices targeted
at patients with medical conditions. As such, you should
always follow your physician’s prescribed guidelines
for activity. You should never exceed these parameters
unless given specific instructions by your physician. For
example,if your physician has instructed you to not lift
more than 20 pounds, you should not lift more than 20
pounds, even if you feel you can do so when wearing
your Wearable Therapy System.
To properly acclimate to the Axiobionics Wearable
Therapy System, it is best if you follow one of the two
provided, structured protocols (1. Slow Acclimation
or, 2. Fast Acclimation), or follow a custom protocol
provided by your AxioBionics representative, therapist,
or physician. As your muscles are activated you may
experience muscle soreness. If the soreness becomes
excessive or painful, you may want to decrease the usage
time or intensity of contraction until your muscles no
longer hurt. You should never increase the amount of
time you are using the Wearable Therapy System if you
have excessive muscle soreness or experience pain.
The Axiobionics Wearable Therapy System can be used
as much as 8-14 hours per day. The amount of time the
ACCLIMATING TO WEARABLE THERAPY
patient uses the system can be less if the patient is unable
to tolerate stimulation beyond a certain duration of time.
General Guidelines For Setting Intensity
Levels
Your AxioBionics representative or therapist will assist
you with selecting the proper intensity of stimulation for
each muscle group targeted by the Wearable Therapy
System. As a general rule, muscles should be stimulated
with just enough stimulation to make the muscle perform
as desired. Any increase in stimultion beyond that point
can cause discomfort or pain to the patient and will not
provide further benefit. Too little stimlation will either
not cause the muscle to contract, or the intensity of
contraction will be insuficient to achieve the
desired result.
Setting Intensity Levels For Each Muscle
Deltoid: The level of stimulation should cause the deltoid
to contract so that any separation or gapping between
the shoulder joint and the head of the humerus is
eliminated. No further increase in intensity is needed.
Triceps: The level of stimulation should cause the triceps
to contract so that it, too, eliminates any gapping
between the shoulder joint and the head of the humerus.
Additionally, the clinician should increase the stimulation
to the triceps so that the elbow fully extends or reaches
its endpoint if a contracture at the elbow is present. No
further increase in intensity is needed.
Wrist/Finger Extensors: The level of stimulation should
cause the fingers to extend at each joint. Hyperextension
at the metacarpal-phalangeal joint (MCP) is undesirable,
but may be unavoidable if contracture of the flexor
group has occured. Some wrist extension is desirable and
sometimes unavoidable. Deviation of the wrist to the
ulnar or radial side should be avoided.
Summary of Contents for Wearable Therapy
Page 1: ...SURFACE ELECTRICAL STIMULATION SYSTEM1 Wearable Therapy CARE INSTRUCTIONS USER GUIDE...
Page 30: ...Page 28 of 38 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 APPLYING THE GARMENT...
Page 36: ...ACCLIMATION MONITORING FORM...
Page 37: ...PARAMETER SETTINGS FORM...
Page 38: ......
