Cover Story:
How Mobile Electro Therapy (MET) Relieves Pain.

Therapy Closeup:
Low Back Pain.

Bit's n' Pieces:
South African Market says 'Yes' to Sportsmed.

User Profiles:
Web developer and regular gym patron tells how Sportsmed has helped him.

Just Imagine:
Just imagine what would happen if...

The Fact Files:
Medical research from around the world.

Lower Back Pain

The lumbar spine is one of the few areas of the body in which most people, at one point or another in their lives, will experience pain or discomfort. In a relatively small physical area, we find bone, joints, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles - all of which can be injured or inflamed. It is the great complexity of the area, and the fact that it is so central, which makes it such a prominent region for injury.

The lumbar spine can be irritated by poor posture in sitting or standing. It can be injured by lifting, twisting, trauma or sudden and violent movement.

When any of the structures in the lumbar spine become inflamed, pain results - followed shortly by muscle spasm, tension and ongoing stiffness. The stiffness in turn irritates the spine further and creates more pain. A terrible cycle of pain and stiffness ensues, which can sometimes be very difficult to break out of. This is evidenced by the high proportion of acute back injuries that stretch out to become chronic, nagging and debilitating problems.

Electrical stimulation is an excellent pain relieving option from the earliest stages of any lower back pain. It is powerful, reliable, effective and importantly - does not add any burdens to the user in terms of side effects.

There are times however, when even electrical stimulation can have limited results. In these cases, it is important to vary the way in which stimulation is applied so pain relief can be maximized. Be sure to read all the information in this web site on acute lower back pain and chronic lower back pain, as well as the of using BioStim™ equipment.

The most effective rate and strength of stimulation, and the most appropriate length of time for which to apply stimulation very often comes down to personal preference (for our recommendations, see the links above). However, different electrode positions can be of vital importance. A few variations can make all the difference - as shown across.

[Please note: Method 'd' not to be used during pregnancy or menstruation]