Welcome to CyMedica Orthopedics Support

Learn more about how to use your CyMedica muscle stimulation system.

How to use your

QB1

support-qb1-knee-image

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Fitting the Garment
Placement Electrodes
Secure the Garment

Fitting the Garment

Throughout your rehabilitation after knee surgery, you will apply the garment for your daily muscle activation sessions to comfortably and conveniently strengthen your thigh muscles. To provide a comfortable and effective experience, you should ensure a proper and secure fit of the garment, as described.

Placement Electrodes

Confirm proper electrode placement by pulling the blue thigh panel with electrodes around the top of your leg. For more information on proper electrode positioning, please review this brief video.

Secure the Garment

Tighten the Garment flaps on the outside of your leg, beginning with the flap just above your knee. Pull flaps tight and firmly attach to the Garment panel. Continue securing the flaps. The Garment should be snug and secure against your leg. Readjust as necessary.

Starting Muscle Activation Session
Completing Treatment
Replace Electrode Covers and Reapply Garment/Brace

Starting Muscle Activation Session

With the Garment secured and in position, begin the muscle activation session by sliding the Controller’s ON/OFF switch to the ON position ( I ). When pressed, the screen will display the cumulative usage time, number of completed sessions, hardware and software versions, and the customer support number. Choose your treatment type, as described.

Completing Treatment

Once you have selected a strong but comfortable intensity for both muscle groups, press the START button to being your 20-minute treatment session. The treatment screen will display the remaining time, as well as allow you to change the intensity levels for either muscle area. The QB1 will send an alternating muscle activation signal, as noted by the yellow symbol at the top right corner. This activation signal will contract and relax your muscles. The device will then enter a period of rest for several seconds, where no activation signal is sent. The timing of the activation periods and rest periods differ depending on the treatment type selected.

Replace Electrode Covers and Reapply Garment/Brace

Remove the Garment from your leg by unstrapping the flaps. Reapply the Electrode Covers to the electrode pads in order to maximize the life of the electrodes. Reattach the Garment and Brace, as described above. Recharge the Controller each night or as necessary.

Charging the Controller

The QB1 Controller is designed to provide about a day’s worth – or three 20-minute – muscle activation sessions. It is therefore recommended to charge the Controller at the end of each day. To charge the QB1 Controller, verify that the power switch is in the OFF (O) position. The Controller will NOT charge unless the unit is powered off. Pull the included wall charger into the charging port on the side of your Controller, located below the power switch. When the wall charger is plugged into an active outlet, the blue LED light on the Controller will illuminate, indicating that the battery is charging. The Controller requires about five hours to fully charge.

Cleaning QB1
Electrode Maintenance

Cleaning QB1

Cleaning the Garment

For hygienic reasons, the Garment wrap is intended for use by a single individual.
DO NOT hand wash, machine wash, dry clean or sterilize the Garment, as there are electronics integrated into the Garment that can be damaged by improper cleaning.
If the Garment requires cleaning, gently wipe the wrap with a damp and soft cloth.

Cleaning the Control Unit

Treat the Controller similar to most electronic devices – keep away from liquids and dirt.
Use the Carrying Case to store the Controller during and after therapy sessions to minimize wear and exposure to harmful elements.
If the Controller requires cleaning, gently clean the outside surface with a damp and soft cloth.

Electrode Maintenance

With proper care, the electrodes should last for about 20 therapy sessions before they should be replaced. The electrodes are reusable as long as they are clean, retain their sticky or tacky texture, and are without any visible sign of damage. To maximize their life, follow these tips:

Cover Electrodes – To prolong the life of the electrodes, replace the Electrode Covers after EVERY use.
Hydrate Electrodes – Applying a small amount of electrode gel every time will help effectively deliver the activation current to your muscles as well as maintain the tacky feel of the electrodes.
Clean Electrodes – The tacky surface of the electrodes may pick up small amounts of debris after use. To clean the electrode surface, place a small drop of water or electrode gel with the Controller OFF onto the surface of the electrode and gently rub with your fingers to remove the debris.

Muscle Activation - Overview
Muscle Activation - Sensation

Muscle Activation - Overview

WHAT IS MUSCLE ACTIVATION? HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM NMES? TENS?

Your nerves send small electrical signals throughout your body to transmit messages about sensation and motion. For example, when you flex your muscles, an electrical signal is relayed through your nervous system to the muscle telling it to contract.

This process can be mimicked with an electrical device, which sends a mild electrical signal to your muscles through electrodes on the skin, overriding the natural nerve signals.

There are two types of stimulation devices – TENS and NMES, whose effects – pain reduction or muscle contraction – differ by the signal’s target nerves and the signal’s waveform:

TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) is frequently used to therapeutically treat pain by sending a lower intensity signal that overrides and blocks pain signals from your nerves, preventing your brain from detecting pain.
NMES (neuromuscular electrical stimulation) sends a slightly higher intensity electrical impulse into the body, triggering your muscles to contract. NMES has been shown to be effective at strengthening muscles, particularly in the case of muscle atrophy.

Traditional NMES devices blindly transmit a consistent high-voltage signal into the body to trigger contraction. As this powerful signal is distributed throughout your body from the electrodes, it can also stimulate pain nerves in your skin, eliciting a painful experience.

The QB1 represents the next generation of NMES devices, delivering a novel form of stimulation we call Muscle Activation. The innovative QB1 technology deliver muscle stimulation through a patented closed-loop feedback system, which intelligently monitors and adjusts the signal to optimally deliver stimulation at a fraction of the power of traditional devices, greatly improving your physical comfort and experience.

HOW DOES MUSCLE ACTIVATION WORK TO ADDRESS QUAD ATROPHY?

Quad Atrophy is a condition frequent after knee injury and/or surgery, whereby your thigh muscles are weakened by a combination of disuse and an interruption of normal neural activation that prevents nerve signals from properly producing muscle contraction.

If left untreated, this continued weakness may prevent you from returning to your pre-injury function and may lead to further joint injury or damage.

For decades, physical therapists relied upon strengthening exercises alone to treat quad atrophy. However, progress was slow as exercises weren’t targeted.

CyMedica’s Muscle Activation device seeks to overcome quad atrophy by targeting only your atrophied thigh muscles. The two QB1 programs – POST-OP and STRENGTH – seek to address one of the two reasons for quad atrophy:

POST-OP seeks to ‘reset’ and ‘re-educate’ your neural circuitry immediately after surgery, allowing you to better contract your thigh muscles consciously.
STRENGTH effectively ‘exercises’ your muscles for you, targeting the specific muscle groups commonly affected by atrophy.

Both programs utilize QB1’s patented closed-loop feedback system to intelligently monitor and adjust the stimulation signal to make it more comfortable. As frequent administration of Muscle Activation is key for optimal results, this improved comfort greatly increases the likelihood that you will use the device and receive therapeutic benefits.

Muscle Activation - Sensation

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT TO FEEL DURING A MUSCLE ACTIVATION SESSION?

The sensation of Muscle Activation is difficult to describe, as there is no common experience to which to compare it.

During a Muscle Activation session you will feel two sensations simultaneously – the electrical stimulation and the muscle contraction:

Electrical Stimulation is often described as a mild tingling sensation. While the QB1 is designed to provide the most comfortable stimulation possible, the degree of this sensation can vary based on the selected intensity, condition and position of the electrodes, and hydration of your skin and muscles.
Muscle Contraction is the primary outcome of Muscle Activation, and can produce an unusual sensations as your muscles seem to tense on their own. The strength of this sensation varies based on the stimulation intensity and how your body responds to the stimulation.

For best results, maintain good condition of your electrodes (replacing them after 20 treatments), apply a dime-size amount of electrode gel to each electrode prior to each session, and select the highest intensity to elicit strong yet comfortable contractions.

NOTE: Muscle Activation can aggravate freshly shaved skin, making it less comfortable.

SHOULD THE MUSCLE ACTIVATION PULSES FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE OR UNUSUAL?

The QB1 is designed to deliver a muscle activation signal that is strong yet comfortable, providing a signal that can efficiently ‘exercises’ your muscle while minimizing discomfort.

However, Muscle Activation is an unfamiliar sensation, often being described as a mild electric tingling that, while unusual, should not be painful. Immediately terminate any therapy session that is excessively painful.