A 2025 Study From Mount Sinai, USA, Investigates This Question**

ORIEMS FIT RESEARCH DIGEST – INTRODUCTION

Welcome to another article from the Oriems Fit Research Digest series.

In this series, we regularly share interesting scientific research related to electrical stimulation — explained in very simple language.

Our goal is not to give medical advice.
Our goal is to spark curiosity, help people understand real research, and encourage readers to explore the original studies themselves.

At the end of every Research Digest article, you will always find links to the original research papers.
If you enjoy collecting studies, doing fact-checking, or reading the full scientific details, you can go straight to the source.

WHAT QUESTION DID THIS STUDY TRY TO ANSWER?

Can electrical nerve stimulation, used during surgery, help predict whether a nerve will recover later?

This question matters because:

• Some nerve injuries recover naturally

• Some nerve injuries do not

• Surgeons often cannot tell the difference early

WHO DID THIS RESEARCH AND WHEN?

Who:

• Christoph A. Schroen

• Michael R. Hausman

• Paul J. Cagle

Where:

• Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA

• One of the most respected medical research centers in the United States

When:

• Published online in September 2025

Journal:

• Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

• A long-running, peer-reviewed medical journal trusted worldwide

Ethical Oversight:

• Approved by Mount Sinai’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

WHAT WAS THIS RESEARCH ABOUT?

This study looked at electrical nerve stimulation used during surgery.

The researchers wanted to know:

If a nerve responds to electrical stimulation immediately after injury, does that mean it can recover later?

And the opposite:

If a nerve does not respond, does that mean recovery is unlikely?

WHO OR WHAT WAS STUDIED?

• 22 adult rats

• Each rat had a median nerve stretch injury in the forelimb

• Two different injury severities were tested:

  • Milder stretch injury

  • More severe stretch injury

Rats were used because their peripheral nerves are very similar to human nerves in structure and behavior.

HOW WAS THE STUDY DONE?

1. Surgeons exposed the nerve during surgery

2. A handheld electrical nerve stimulator was applied

3. Researchers observed whether the rat’s fingers moved

4. Grip strength was tested over 12 weeks

5. Long-term recovery was carefully measured

No medications were tested.
No treatments were claimed.
Only electrical responsiveness was observed.

WHAT DID THE RESEARCHERS FIND? (KEY POSITIVE FINDINGS)

1. Electrical stimulation clearly separated injury severity

• Milder injuries usually responded to stimulation

• Severe injuries often showed no response at all

This allowed researchers to distinguish two injury levels immediately.

2. Electrical response strongly predicted recovery

• 92% of nerves that did NOT respond → did not recover

• 75% of nerves that DID respond → later recovered function

This means:

• No response = very high chance of poor recovery

• Response = much better chance of recovery

3. Grip strength results confirmed this pattern

After 12 weeks:

• Mild-injury group regained grip strength similar to healthy controls

• Severe-injury group remained weak long-term

Electrical response at the start matched recovery months later.

WHY IS THIS RESEARCH IMPORTANT?

Right now:

• Surgeons often must wait months to see if nerves recover

• Delayed surgery can reduce success

This study suggests:

• Electrical stimulation might help guide decisions earlier

• It may help identify injuries that need earlier intervention

HOW COULD THIS HELP PEOPLE INTERESTED IN EMS?

This study shows that electrical stimulation can reveal nerve function, even when natural movement is temporarily lost.

It supports the idea that:

• Electrical signals can still activate nerves when visible function is absent

• Electrical responsiveness reflects underlying nerve integrity

⚠️ This study does not claim treatment effects
⚠️ It does not recommend home or clinical use decisions
⚠️ It explores biological response, not therapy

STUDY INFORMATION

Original Research Paper Title:
Is a Response to Intraoperative Electrical Nerve Stimulation Associated With Recovery After Stretch Injury in the Rat Median Nerve?

Simplified Name:
Can Electrical Stimulation Predict Nerve Recovery After Injury?

Original Study Link (Peer-Reviewed):
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 2025

This journal is peer-reviewed, internationally respected, and widely cited in orthopaedic research.

SUMMARY TABLE – STUDY AT A GLANCE

FEATURED PRODUCT

Featured Product: Original Oriems Ultimate Kit

Enhance your fitness and relaxation routine with EMS technology trusted by over 10,000 Aussies.
Proudly chosen from 68,000+ nominees.
Voted Year’s Best two years in a row (2024 & 2025).

Disclaimer: This product is designed for general wellness and fitness purposes only.
It is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

What surprised you most about this research?
Do you think electrical stimulation could become a useful assessment tool in the future?

Leave a comment and share your thoughts.

SHARE THIS RESEARCH DIGEST

If you like this blog post, share it with your friends:
👉 https://bit.ly/4aODLbh