Studies have shown electrical muscle stimulation devices can help prevent muscle atrophy, which occurs when an individual's muscles waste away due to disuse. This often happens when individuals are injured, since they need to let their injured body part rest during the healing process. It's also common in patients with chronic pain problems that cause limited mobility. Patients with nervous system problems may experience muscle atrophy because their nervous system isn't communicating fully with their muscular system. In paraplegic individuals, the ability to move the paralyzed body part is partially or totally cut off. The low current levels in an electrical muscle stimulation device cause weak muscles to contract. This stimulation is essential to keeping inactive muscles healthy.