Your brain changes
after injury. We help change it back.
STIM. combines neuroscience research with non-invasive brain stimulation to address arthrogenic muscle inhibition, the hidden barrier to recovery after joint injury.
The Hidden Problem
Why muscles stay weak, even after successful surgery
The Injury
ACL tear, hip osteoarthritis, ankle sprain. Your joint is injured and undergoes surgical repair or conservative management.
The Hidden Problem
Your brain reduces neural signals to surrounding muscles. This is arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI), a protective response that persists long after tissues heal.
The Consequence
Persistent weakness, increased re-injury risk, and failed return-to-sport, even after surgery and months of rehabilitation.
The AMI Pathway
Joint Injury
ACL tear, hip OA, ankle sprain. Tissue damage triggers a protective cascade
Altered Signals
Damaged mechanoreceptors & nociceptors send abnormal afferent input to the CNS
Neural Inhibition
The motor cortex reduces neural drive to muscles surrounding the injured joint
Muscle Shutdown
Persistent weakness and atrophy despite intact tissue. The brain won't let the muscle fully activate
Joint Injury
ACL tear, hip OA, ankle sprain. Tissue damage triggers a protective cascade
Altered Signals
Damaged mechanoreceptors & nociceptors send abnormal afferent input to the CNS
Neural Inhibition
The motor cortex reduces neural drive to muscles surrounding the injured joint
Muscle Shutdown
Persistent weakness and atrophy. The brain won't let the muscle fully activate
tDCS Breaks the Cycle
Transcranial direct current stimulation delivers a weak electrical current to the motor cortex, increasing cortical excitability and restoring neural drive to inhibited muscles, directly counteracting the central inhibition that keeps them switched off.
Ready to address the hidden barrier to recovery?
Whether you're an athlete, clinician, or sporting club, we can help.