Tip #1: Use the Appropriate Type of Electrodes

• The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) guidance document for Powered Muscle Stimulators specifies that the stimulators “should only be used with the leads and electrodes recommended for use by the manufacturer.” High-quality ACP electrodes have been designed specifically for OmniStim® and OmniVersa® stimulators.
• ACP’s carbon silver electrodes provide uniform conductivity and are designed for higher current density applications among
  a broad patient population including aging adults.

Tip #2: Use the Appropriate Size Electrodes

• Electrodes should be as large as possible for the target muscle without causing overflow to the adjacent non-targeted muscle.
• Using large, low-resistance, uniform conducting electrodes is the single most important contributor to comfortable stimulation and good muscle force generation.

Tip #3: Appropriately Inspect & Prepare the Skin

• Inspect the skin for breaks; do not apply electrodes over areas of damaged or open skin.
• Wash the skin with soap and water to hydrate and clean. Do not apply alcohol wipes as this dries skin and increases
  skin resistance.
• Use LVPC if decreased sensation and skin integrity are issues to reduce current density.
• Electrodes should be placed at least 1 inch apart for even current distribution to prevent risk of burns at the edges of electrodes..

Tip #4: Correctly Remove and Store Electrodes

• Slowly peel off the electrode by folding it upon itself rather than pulling the electrode up off the skin.
• Inspect the skin for redness or burns after each treatment.
• Store electrodes in foil pouch and make sure it is sealed and correctly labeled with appropriate patient information.
  Failure to seal the pouch correctly could allow the electrodes to dry out.

Resources:
• Contraindications, Warnings, and Precautions (CWP’s) for the use of electrical stimulation can be found in the user manual for each ACP device.
• If you still have a CWP question about a specific application or patient scenario, please contact your ACP Clinical Program Consultant or Remote Clinical Services (800-350-1100 x 2; acp-clinicalquestions@Hanger.com).