Muscle Stimulator Market Analysis | 2022-2028

Market Insights

The Muscle Stimulator Market was estimated at US$ 733 million in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.94% during 2022-2028 to reach US$ 963.17 million in 2028.

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What is a muscle stimulator?

A muscle stimulator, also known as an electrical muscle stimulator (EMS) or neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) device, is a device that uses electrical impulses to elicit muscle contractions. These devices are often used in physical therapy, rehabilitation, and fitness training to improve muscle strength, endurance, and recovery. Electrodes are placed on the skin, delivering controlled electrical signals that mimic the natural impulses from the central nervous system, causing muscles to contract. This can be beneficial for athletes, individuals undergoing physical therapy, or those seeking to enhance their workouts. Muscle stimulators are designed to complement traditional exercise and therapeutic approaches.

Market Dynamics

The market is being driven by the increasing popularity of muscle stimulators among physiotherapists, technological improvements in medical devices, and an emphasis on pain management therapies in sports medicine. Furthermore, the increased prevalence of musculoskeletal ailments among individuals is likely to fuel market growth further.

Musculoskeletal diseases are commonly caused by poor body posture, a lack of exercise activities, and improper eating habits. According to data given by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), musculoskeletal problems affected 41.0% of the population in the United Kingdom in 2016. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, over 126.6 million Americans were affected by the musculoskeletal ailment in 2016.

Physiotherapists' growing preference for muscle stimulators is assisting market expansion. Physiotherapists are increasingly preferring muscle stimulators over manual approaches to treat patients in clinical and home care settings because they take less time and are more effective. Furthermore, rising incidences of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear, hip flexor strain, and hamstring strain among athletes requiring muscle stimulation therapy are expected to fuel expansion.

Customers are opting for less expensive alternative therapies such as yoga, acupuncture, and aromatherapy due to the high expense of muscle stimulators. Yoga and acupuncture are popular in emerging nations such as China and India due to their convenience and adaptability. In addition, there are no guidelines for the usage of muscle stimulators.

Several investments/guidelines in the industry have been directed in recent years, which would boost the overall market. Some of them are:

• In the next years, the development of technologically improved items such as wearable muscle stimulator devices are expected to fuel market expansion. For example, PowerDot, a small and wearable muscle stimulator introduced in 2017, is used to avoid muscular stiffness and tightness. Furthermore, the growing demand for wireless and portable muscle stimulators, as well as their connectivity with smartphones, is creating new potential for market participants.

Segments Analysis

By Product Type

The market is segmented into neuromuscular electrical stimulation, functional electrical stimulation, interferential, burst mode alternating current, microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulator, and others. During the projected period, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is expected to be the fastest-expanding segment. This muscle stimulator is primarily utilized to repair or replace motor capabilities in individuals who have experienced upper motor neuron loss as a result of a stroke or spinal cord injury (SCI). According to a factsheet given by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center in 2019, around 17,730 cases of SCI are registered in the United States each year, with 291,000 persons currently suffering from this ailment. The need for NMES is expected to rise over the predicted period as the prevalence of SCI rises.

By Modality Type

The market is divided into portable, handheld, and tabletop. Portable devices dominated the market in 2021 and are expected to grow at the fastest rate throughout the forecast period. Portable muscle stimulators are widely used to prevent muscle atrophy, relieve muscular spasms, manage chronic pain caused by arthritis, and increase blood circulation. Furthermore, many prominent market companies are delivering a variety of new stimulators in this category. NeuroMetrix, Inc., for example, supplies a portable pain treatment kit, which is a TENS unit that fits like a brace on patients and gives stimulation for pain relief. JetStream, a portable system that can be used at home for therapy, is offered by Zynex, Inc. OMRON Corporation is currently offering a small-sized portable electrotherapy TENS device for giving pain treatment.

By Application Type

The muscle stimulator market has been divided into pain management, neurological disorders, musculoskeletal, and others. In 2021, pain management applications dominated the market. The increasing use of muscle stimulators for acute and chronic pain management, as well as the rising prevalence of arthritis, are expected to drive the sector market throughout the forecast period. This category is expected to increase rapidly because of the growing senior population suffering from muscle pain and the rising prevalence of chronic pain. According to the CDC, 20.4% of individuals in the United States experienced chronic pain in 2016, with 0.8% experiencing severe chronic pain. Many European and Asian countries face a similar problem. This growing prevalence of chronic pain is anticipated to drive market growth over the forecast period.

By End-User Type

The market is segmented into hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, physiotherapy clinics, and others. The physiotherapy clinics segment dominated the market in 2021 with the most revenue share and is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. The growing preference of physiotherapists for stimulators over manual treatments is one of the primary factors driving the expansion of this industry.

On the other hand, rising patient visits for stimulation therapies and the availability of these therapies at reasonable prices at physiotherapy clinics are expected to fuel market expansion. Furthermore, the medical reimbursement granted to patients seeking these therapies is expected to support segment growth during the projection period.

Regional Analysis

The muscle stimulator market is broken down geographically into areas like North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World (RoW). North America dominated the market in 2021 and is expected to do so again throughout the projected period. The presence of major participants, large government funding in medical device discovery and development, and the early release of innovative muscle stimulators are all contributing to the region's growth. Furthermore, consumers' high spending power and greater use of modern technology and novel medical equipment are projected to boost growth. During the projected period, however, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-expanding region. Growing health and fitness awareness, increased acceptance of pain management medicines, and increased use of smart technologies for health maintenance are the region's significant growth drivers. Furthermore, there is an increase in the number of sports injuries in this region stirs up demand.

Key Players

The following are the major players in the muscle stimulator market:

• NeuroMetrix, Inc.
• OMRON Corporation
• BioMedical Life Systems, Inc.
• Zynex, Inc.
• EMS Physio Ltd.
• DJO Global, Inc. 
• Beurer GmbH

The major strategies employed by market participants are the introduction of new innovative items and the expansion of the distribution network. For example, 

• In March 2017, DJO Global introduced 'OA Reaction,' a portable muscle stimulator that relieves pain in persons with joint diseases. The product includes three distinct technologies: Web Tech, Boa Tech, and Exos Tech.

Research Methodology

This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders, and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools. More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data. We conducted more than 15 detailed primary interviews with the market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence most comprehensively. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market.

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