United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

My son just got his BMR unit and I'm looking for a good pic to make sure I am placing the electrodes properly.Thanks in advance

When we got my daughter's BMR NT2000 unit for NMES it was sent to our PT. She brought it over, programmed it, showed us where to place the electrodes depending on what muscle you are trying to strengthen, and determine what level of stimulation we should use to contract the muscle. We then put black dots with a laundry marker on my daughter where the center of the electrodes are placed to ensure that we get them in the correct spots. We just keep re-dotting her as needed. The PT also re-evaluates the electrode placement and level of stimulation. My suggestion would be to have a PT trained in electrical stimulation show you exactly where to place the electrodes.

Staycee - your therapist got those anatomical pictures in her training and she is supposed to actually give you the placement sheets with x's on where the electrodes should go. Ask for it. It's hard in the beginning to know for sure where you are placing it.

-francine

wait a second - I'm assuming it's TES.... is it TES or NMES? If it's TES - then this was all part of the training. Can you tell me which placements you are doing?

it's NMES and I'm looking to stim the scapula, deltoid, mostly shoulder muscles, I'm pretty good with placement of biceps, wrist, it was programed over the phone with my sons OT and I am trying to find someone familiar with it in the area.

Please be very careful on making sure you have the placements correct. NMES is very different than TES. With NMES you are actually making muscle groups work that can't work on their own, and strengthening them. This should all be set up by an experienced therapist. Childrens muscle groups are so close together and you may actual cause more harm if placed incorrectly. I had my son on an e-stim program at home. His PT would periodically check up on it. But she moved and I continued what I thought was to be correct. However because the area is so small that you are working with it is very easy to accidently e-stim the wrong group or part of a group you don't want to include. In Kyle's case, I was also hitting an area that was all ready over-powering the weaker muscles causing more of a deficit. Kyle had the mod quad last Feb. and I have not restarted him on an e-stim program yet. I am on a waiting list to get him into a therapist who is knowledgable on e-stim and can get him started back on a program.
Karrie