For decades, surgery and medications were the most common treatment methods for many conditions. Although these two protocols can be effective, they also have their downsides. Surgery is very invasive, and a patient has to wait for several weeks or even months to recover fully, which can be very inconveniencing. It is also very expensive. On the other hand, medications might come with the potential for unexpected side effects, or even for the patient to develop a dependency.

In the modern medical era, patients don’t have to undergo surgery or take drugs to get relief from various conditions. They can opt for restorative physical therapy recovery techniques, such as electrical stimulation therapy. This effective treatment is non-invasive, and does not require taking medications.

If you are suffering from illness, injury or a surgery that has resulted in muscle weakness, decreased movement or disability, functional electrical stimulation therapy using Xcite technology is a viable and effective option offered by specialists like those at Brooks Rehabilitation. Candidates could undergo consultation and examination, and then start treatment right away. Xcite electrical stimulation (e-stim) therapy focuses on helping patients get relief from pain or numbness while strengthening and recovering completely, too.

Xcite Electrical Stimulation Therapy

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) therapy is one of the most effective treatment methods used for restoring the body’s normal function and repairing damage, and Xcite is one of the technologies used in e-stim protocols for physical therapy.

Xcite is a portable, task-based multi-channel functional stimulation device used for fine motor and gross training. This technology uses a wireless remote control and on-screen cues to provide sequenced stimulation for various activities. Xcite is designed to help a patient work on a number of various physical movements and activities with the goal of achieving optimum motor skills that may have been affected by injury, neurological impairment or illness. Here are some of the tasks Xcite helps patients to re-learn or fine tune:

• Grasp and release
• Using eating utensils
• Brushing teeth
• Heel slides
• Transfers
• Sit to stand

Weakness, numbness or loss of sensation or coordination in movement can be the result of a variety of issues, including:

• Muscle strains
• Neurological conditions, such as stroke
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Sports-related injuries
• Auto-accident injuries
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Joint pain
• Arthritis

How does XCite work?

Xcite electrical stimulation helps patients perform specific tasks, and also strengthens the areas of their bodies that have decreased or lost mobility. FES achieves this by evoking muscle contractions in the lower extremity, upper extremity, and core muscle groups though finely controlled electrical stimulation. The electrical stimulation is delivered through electrodes attached non-invasively to the skin of the affected area to target the muscles or nerves, and the patient is given tasks through audiovisual cues.

This method of treatment and therapy has been found effective in offering several benefits to the patient, including increased range of motion, increased blood circulation, reduced pain and inflammation, and improvement of overall function, including fine motor control.

An Xcite station consists of stimulators attached by cable to a base station loaded with therapeutic software and featuring a large, easy-to-view touchscreen. The portable base station rests on a wheeled therapy cart, which makes it easy to move the system to easily accommodate the patient and apply the stimulators to the affected area of the body.

How Functional Electrical Stimulation Helps the Patient

FES incorporating the Xcite technology is useful in a number of areas.

• Muscle spasms: Muscle spasms can cause several conditions, such as sciatica, scoliosis, and other posture problems. Electrical stimulation therapy is one of the most effective muscle spasm treatment methods. It helps the muscles relax, and eases tightness and soreness.
• Muscle atrophy: Soft-tissue injuries, neuromuscular disorders, broken bones, and some illnesses can weaken the muscles due to underuse. FES with Xcite can be used to passively exercise atrophied muscles, helping them gain strength and function normally.
• Muscle contraction: Muscle contraction can become a serious issue in the wake of various illnesses, such as stroke, or as a result of surgery. In these cases, Xcite e-stim therapy can be used to retrain the muscles to contract naturally.
• Athletic Injury: Athletes can also benefit from functional electrical stimulation with Xcite to recover from injuries. Recovery programs use low electric frequencies to release endorphins, promote muscle relaxation and increase blood circulation. This promotes faster healing from injuries.
• Overall muscle rehabilitation: When used for muscle recovery therapy, functional electrical stimulation sends signals to the targeted muscles and makes them contract and “exercise themselves.” The repetitive contraction caused by electrical stimulation improves blood flow, promoting growth, healing and control. The repeated contraction cycles also help strengthen the muscles. Electrical stimulation prevents pain receptors in the nerves from transmitting chronic discomfort to the brain, as well.

Features of Xcite Electrical Stimulation Therapy

Xcite’s portable design makes it ideal for patients who may need regular, long-term sessions of e-stim physical therapy to help them recover. The machine can easily be used at home once a qualified therapist or clinician has worked with the patient over a period of treatment to develop an extended recovery plan. Compact and movable, Xcite can be set up wherever it’s needed, and easy instructions for attaching the battery-powered stimulators are programmed right in, and show up on the device’s screen.

For patients who require repetitive movement as well as electrical stimulation as part of their treatment, Xcite’s task-based programs provide the added muscle-building and motor fine-tuning exercises as part of an engaging routine. Its audiovisual cues act as a virtual therapist, keeping the patient on track and oriented toward their recovery goals.

Qualifications for Xcite

Patients

Before treatment, a therapist will assess a patient to confirm that their condition qualifies them for, and will receive benefit from, this treatment. After determining that a patient qualifies for treatment.

There are some conditions that may prohibit a patient from being a candidate for electrical stimulation therapy with Xcite. That’s why therapists ask about a patient’s medical history before treatment. In some cases, preliminary tests may be required to ascertain whether or not a patient is a good fit for the treatment, or will receive the anticipated therapeutic benefit..

Operators

To use Xcite electrical stimulation therapy technology, therapists must meet the following qualifications:

• Graduate from a physical therapy program. The program must be approved by the commission on accreditation in physical therapy education (CAPTE).
• Pass the national physical therapist examination (NPTE).

A therapist must also be licensed to offer and administer these services. To become licensed, a therapist needs to meet the qualifications mentioned above, and pass the jurisprudence exam. This examination tests a person’s knowledge of the laws and rules of the state in which they desire to become licensed.

Contact Brooks Rehabilitation today for more information on Xcite, to schedule a consultation or learn about our other physical therapy and rehabilitative services.

Our therapists are highly skilled and experienced. Our aim is to help you restore your strength and range of motion, so you can get back to the quality of life you deserve. Whether you are recovering from surgery, an illness, or an injury, feel free to visit us at any one of our locations in north and east central Florida for a customized treatment plan.