5 Benefits of Adding Electrotherapy to Personal Injury Treatment Plans
Each year, over one million US adults find themselves with painful musculoskeletal injuries caused either by auto injury or work injury.
In fact, research shows that musculoskeletal injuries are the most common injury sustained during car collisions and constitute the largest proportion of claims. While some injuries resolve fully, it’s not uncommon for pain to persist and manifest into chronic conditions. A recent study found that 1 in 3 report persistent low back pain (LBP) one-year post accident.
Likewise, musculoskeletal disorders are also a common result of work-related injuries. In 2016 alone, conditions of this type involving the back accounted for 38.5 percent of all work-related musculoskeletal disorders – that’s 134,550 back cases according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Treatment options for these injuries often include visits to orthopedic doctors and pain specialists, chiropractors and physical therapists, as well as a range of supplemental therapies such as massage and acupuncture.
An additional option, which can be used alone or in conjunction with any of the treatments above, is electrotherapy with the RS-4i® Plus. It’s a non-opioid, non-invasive therapy that provides pain relief for 87 percent of patients who use it.
If it’s not among the options considered for auto- and work-related musculoskeletal injuries, here are five reasons it should be:
1 – It’s relief at home
Unlike physical therapy, massage or other treatments that require an appointment, this is prescription-strength therapy right in the comfort of the patient’s home – available whenever it’s needed. There’s no travel time, no scheduling, no exposure risk.
And don’t forget what an advantage it is for patients to have a reliable method for managing pain at home – because it’s not uncommon for their pain to linger beyond the time a claim is open. In those cases, the RS-4i Plus can provide months or years of additional relief.
2 – It’s 2 treatments in 1
The RS-4i Plus is one of few devices that offers two types of treatments – high-frequency Interferential (INF) therapy for pain relief and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for muscle rehab. Sessions start with INF signals to knock down the pain, and then transition to NMES to help relax spasms and prevent atrophy.
The Intersperse® session – available exclusively on the RS-4i Plus – combines these to deliver both pain relief and muscle rehab in the same 35-minute segment. In fact, patients often report 4-8 hours of pain relief after a single session.
3 – It’s easy to use
While the RS-4i Plus is more advanced than a typical TENS unit, it’s still simple to use. Just locate the right pre-programmed treatment and start it with a few clicks. Then the patient sets the intensity based upon their pain level and settles in for a treatment. Even simpler – the last treatment used is saved as the default, so there’s no need to hunt for the starting point.
4 – It comes with personalized training
Once the device is prescribed and shipped to the patient, an RS Medical specialist trained in patient care reaches out to schedule a COVID-safe personalized instruction session.
As part of this process, the patient care specialist reviews the provider’s plan of care and trains the patient how to properly use the device for their condition. This includes where to place electrodes, which treatment programs to use and how often to take a treatment. The specialist makes sure that the patient’s questions are addressed and he or she is comfortable taking at-home treatments.
5 – It comes with free educational resources
Another way that RS Medical provides assistance for both practitioners and patients is with a suite of online resources that are accessible 24/7. These resources include:
Interactive Pad Placement Guide – with more than 20 detailed videos, the Interactive Pad Placement Guide is an easy way to review proper electrode placement or learn new placement protocols. These brief, color-coded guides show exactly where to place pads – and which muscles are being targeted – so the patient gets the most benefit from an electrotherapy session. For those who prefer, there is also the corresponding printable Pad Placement Guide.
Resource Library – any patient who needs help, which invariably will happen at 2:00am, can find video and written instructions with just a few clicks in the online Resource Library.
Take the Next Step
Healthcare providers who are interested in a more detailed review of the technology that powers the RS-4i Plus with Intersperse, we invite you to complete the form below and check the box for a virtual evaluation.
The RS-4i Plus requires a prescription. Patients who are interested in discussing this high-powered, non-opioid treatment option with their healthcare provider can download a helpful guide to aid the decision. Get yours today.
Related Resources
Blog: Intersperse – an Exclusive & More Impactful Electrotherapy Treatment
Blog: Muscle Rehab & the RS-4i Plus
This blog provides general information and discussion about medicine, health and related subjects. The words and other content provided in this blog, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately-licensed physician or other healthcare professional.