Electrical Muscle Stimulation

A technique that uses electrical impulses delivered through surface electrodes to elicit muscle contractions. EMS is used therapeutically for muscle re-education, spasticity management, and rehabilitation, and has been explored in HCI as an output modality — for example, guiding a user's movement, providing haptic feedback, or restoring function when paired with EMG as input. EMS is distinct from functional electrical stimulation (FES), which specifically restores functional movement in paralysed muscles.