283 | 10 Common NMES Mistakes in ACL Rehab - Part 2

In this episode, we close out our two-part NMES series by getting into the setup and execution details that make or break every individual session. We cover the five most common mistakes we see in how athletes actually run their NMES sessions: rushing the duty cycle and cutting rest short, placing pads in the wrong spots instead of over motor points, using electrode pads that are too small for the quad, letting poor skin contact and worn-out pads quietly degrade session quality, and unknowingly underperforming because of dead or fading batteries. We close with a rapid-fire breakdown of the key technical parameters every athlete and clinician should know: pulse duration, frequency range, how to vary contraction rate, and when to use voluntary versus involuntary contractions. If you listened to Part 1 and you are already using NMES, this episode is where you tighten everything up and make sure each session is actually delivering what it should.

NMES Device:

• Balego on Amazon
• Pad and other equipment

Motor Points for the Quads

• Motor point heatmap guide for neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the quadriceps muscle
• Muscle motor point identification is essential for optimizing neuromuscular electrical stimulation use 

NMES Research

1. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation is effective in strengthening the quadriceps muscle after anterior cruciate ligament surgery - Hauger 2018
2. Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction on Quadriceps Strength, Function, and Patient-Oriented Outcomes : A Systematic Review - Kim 2010
3. Utility of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation to Preserve Quadriceps Muscle Fiber Size and Contractility After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries and Reconstruction: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled, Blinded Trial - Toth 2020
4. Can the Use of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Be Improved to Optimize Quadriceps Strengthening? - Glaviano 2015
5. Who’s Afraid of Electrical Stimulation? Let’s Revisit the Application of NMES at the Knee - Arhos 2024

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