Transmitting electrical impulses through electrodes affixed to the body is an alternative method of stimulating muscle tissue and inducing bodily movement. The technology is primarily used for rehabilitative applications, such as treatment for paralysis or during post-operative recovery. The biceps, which run along the upper arm, number among the muscles most used in electrical muscle stimulation.
Fundamentals
Electrical stimulation usually works by affixing electrodes at both ends of a muscle. In the case of the bicep, two large electrodes or four small electrodes are set at the bicep's origin near the armpit and at the opposite end of the muscle, just above the elbow joint. When electricity passes through electrodes, the muscle fibers contract. When repeated, the stimulation can serve therapeutically, increasing strength, building muscle mass and improving the overall condition of the muscle tissue.
Electrical Stimulation of the Bicep
In many cases, electrical stimulation is an appropriate method of restoring strength and movement to the biceps. For example, physical therapy for tendinitis of the bicep may include electrical stimulation as well as ultrasound, stretching, massage and other forms of rehabilitation. Applying an electrical charge to the bicep produces passive movement at the elbow joint, meaning that the patient does not need to initiate the movement independently. During rehabilitation, a qualified physical therapist can modulate the intensity of the stimulation so that the patient eventually performs a full range of movement painlessly.
Health Versus Fitness Applications
While electrical stimulation is a widely used modality for physical therapy, the American Council on Exercise warns against personal use of the technology to build muscle mass. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates electronic muscle stimulators for use in physical therapy and rehabilitation contexts, under the direction of health care professionals. None of the FDA-approved devices has proven its effectiveness for weight loss, muscle toning or girth reduction.
Contracting Versus Stretching
Typically, electrical stimulation therapy is used to contract muscle fibers. However, if your goal is to stretch your biceps, the method can also be used to improve muscular extension. One application is in the treatment of spastic muscles, which contract excessively or uncontrollably. To relax the spastic muscle, the electrical stimulation device may be applied either to the muscle itself or to the opposing muscle. In the case of the bicep, the opposing muscle is the tricep. Electrical stimulation may also enhance a muscle's stretching capacity in cases of restricted range of motion. However, when using electrical stimulation to induce stretching, the practitioner providing the treatment often needs to take steps to limit the induced range of motion within reasonable limits. Otherwise, the practice may strain joints, particularly when used on smaller joints, such as the metacarpophalangeal joints of the fingers.
References
- I-Tech Medical Division: Electro Stimulation of Biceps Brachii Muscle
- Richard Stockton College Athletic Training: Biceps Tendinitis
- Textbook of Arthroscopy, Volume 355; Mark D. Miller and Brian J. Cole
- American Council of Exercise: Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) Claims Exposed by American Council on Exercise Study
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Electronic Muscle Stimulators
- Oxygen Transport to Tissue XXXI; Duane F. Bruley and Eiji Takahashi
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