By: Cathy Renkiewicz, PT, DPT, GCS, CEEAA
We receive a lot of interest in and questions about the Neubie. Clients want to know what makes it such an exciting and promising tool in physical and occupational therapy. In this blog we want to address a common misconception that the Neubie is the same as electrical stim or a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator) unit. Short answer: They are not the same.
The difference lies in the type of current being used, AC (Alternating Current) versus DC (Direct Current). Most devices out there that you’ve tried are AC, and although they can have some benefits at lower levels, there is a significant limitation on what you can accomplish therapeutically with AC devices, primarily because of the way they affect the nervous system.
When intensity is turned up to a high enough level to challenge the neuromuscular system, AC devices cause muscles to co-contract and fight against each other. This signal stiffens the body and creates excessive tension. The excessive tension actually reinforces the same protective, guarding, and bracing patterns that we are trying to break and alter in therapy resulting in the slowing down of the healing process.
Enter the Neubie...When used at a high enough level to challenge the neuromuscular system the DC signal of the Neubie device actually allows the muscles to move through the electrical signal promoting a positive effect on muscle tone. Rather than causing muscles to shorten and stiffen, it helps muscles to relax, becoming more supple and pliable.
The Nuebie does this through a new type of neuromuscular re-education, which focuses on providing sensory stimulation to the brain so that the brain can choose to reduce muscle tone in the area of the stimulation. Because this approach stimulates the brain and nervous system to change their own patterns, the changes last longer than traditional interventions and treatments.
Virginian Rehabilitation and Wellness has been using this advanced treatment device to help our clients: reduce chronic pain, improve mobility, recover from injuries and surgery quicker, and reach their goals of better physical function since 2020.
Call us today and schedule an appointment to determine if the Neubie device can be a part of your road to recovery and feeling better.