Acute soft tissue injuries are caused by a sudden trauma, such as a fall or twist, and include sprains, strains and contusions. Sprains are torn or twisted ligaments which connect joints. They most commonly occur in wrists, ankles, thumbs, and knees. Strains occur due to overstretching or torn muscles and are most prevalent in knees, feet, legs and back. Both can lead to long-term pain, swelling, and instability of the concerned area.
Classically, management of sprains, strains, and contusions is based on “RICE” protocol: (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation).
When treating soft tissue injuries with electrical stimulation, fibroblasts have been shown to migrate, proliferate and increase the synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins, thus significantly reduce healing time.
In addition, clinical data suggest that electrical stimulation in combination with a conventional rehabilitation program is more effective for improving muscle strength and function after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction than conventional rehabilitation alone. Also, direct current stimulation (such as WMCS) resulted in a more rapid and lasting improvement of muscle / ligament ruptures and joint sprains compared to conventional treatments.
