Muscle Stimulation: EMS Benefits, Dangers & TENS Safety

What happens when you overuse a TENS machine? While electronic muscle stimulation offers toning benefits for abs, understanding the potential dangers is essential.

Woman having electrical lymphatic drainage.

How Does Electrical Muscle Stimulation Work?

Published Aug,14 2017 | By Amanda Willis, DPT, PT

Electrical muscle stimulation -- often called "e-stim" or "TENS" -- is a type of treatment often used in physical therapy or other rehabilitation settings. The two primary uses for this treatment are pain relief and muscle re-education. In most settings, there is a machine that provides an electrical current.