Can EMS Help Nerves “Talk Better” After Surgery? 

Welcome to the ORIEMS FIT Research Digest — where we turn complicated scientific studies into simple, enjoyable explanations for everyday readers, from teenagers to grandparents.

Before we begin, please note this important thing:

👉 At the end of this post, you will find a direct link to the original scientific paper.
This is for anyone who loves science, wants to fact-check the information, or wants to save the research paper for their personal collection.

Our goal is not to give medical advice.
Our goal is to help you understand what researchers around the world are discovering about electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) in real laboratories.

Today’s study asks a fascinating question:

Can EMS help nerves and muscles communicate better during recovery after surgery?

The findings are surprising — and very interesting for people who enjoy EMS technology.

🧪 Study Summary (Simple Language)

What problem were they studying?

After certain surgeries that involve nerves — especially surgeries for prosthetic limbs — muscles can:

• weaken

• shrink

• lose communication with nerves

Scientists asked:

If we apply EMS daily, can we help keep the nerve–muscle system more active and connected?

How did they study this?

Researchers used 14 rats and created a special surgical model called an AMI (Agonist–Antagonist Myoneural Interface).
This is the same type of setup used in advanced prosthetic limb engineering.

The rats were separated into two groups:

• EMS ON → received real daily EMS

• EMS OFF → device was placed on them but turned off

This allowed scientists to compare the effects fairly.

What EMS settings were used?

• 100 Hz

• 200 microsecond pulse width

• 600 contractions per day

• 60 minutes each session

• 6 days per week

• 2–6 mA intensity

These are controlled, high-quality lab parameters.

What did scientists measure?

They checked:

• nerve signal strength

• muscle signal strength

• number of working motor units (MUNE)

• speed of nerve conduction

All of these tell us how well the nerve–muscle system is functioning.

What did the study discover?

⭐ EMS strengthened nerve–muscle signals

Muscles receiving EMS produced stronger electrical signals.

⭐ EMS increased active motor units

More motor units = better nerve control of the muscle.

⭐ EMS improved nerve conduction

Signals travelled faster and more clearly.

⭐ EMS improved muscle responses

Muscles responded better to electrical nerve stimulation.

In simple words:

EMS helped the nerve and muscle stay connected, active, and “alive” during recovery.

It didn’t restore everything to perfect condition — but it worked better than doing nothing.

🌍 Why This Study Is Reliable

People deserve to know why a study can be trusted.

🏛 1. Published in a legitimate scientific journal

The research was published in Bioengineering, a journal by MDPI Publishing.

About the publisher:

• Based in Switzerland

• Founded in 1996

• Publishes 400+ peer-reviewed journals

• Indexed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science

• Used by researchers from the world’s top universities

It is peer-reviewed, meaning other scientists check the quality before it is published.

🧬 2. The researchers come from prestigious institutions

The research team is from:

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)

China’s highest scientific institution — equivalent to:

• U.S. National Academy of Sciences

• The Royal Society (UK)

• Australian Academy of Science

Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT)

Well-known for:

• neural engineering

• prosthetics

• robotics

• rehabilitation

Shandong University

A respected university with strong medical and engineering research.

Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society

Global leader in human–machine interface research.

These organisations are well-funded, globally recognised, and produce high-quality scientific work.

🟢 What This Means for Everyday EMS Users

This study does not claim that EMS treats medical conditions.
It does not replace physiotherapy, surgery, or medical care.

What it shows is:

• EMS can keep muscles active

• EMS can support nerve–muscle communication in controlled experiments

• EMS technology is respected in advanced scientific research, not just fitness

For someone who enjoys EMS at home, it’s interesting to see how widely EMS is used in science.

📚 For Science Enthusiasts (Fact-Check & Collect)

As promised at the beginning of this post — here is the original study link for anyone who wants to fact-check the information or collect the research paper:

👉 Original research paper:
https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering11090904

Save it, read it, or add it to your personal EMS science library.

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⚠ Disclaimer

This Research Digest is for education and curiosity only.
Always seek advice from a health professional for medical concerns.

Full disclaimer:
https://oriems.fit/blogs/research-digest/disclaimer