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HOW THE NS1 HELPS ATHLETES RECOVER FROM ACL INJURIES.

The NS1 (Neuro System 1), an FDA-cleared Class II direct current stimulation device, is used in ACL recovery to reactivate muscles shut down after injury or surgery, restore range of motion, and re-educate muscles.

Unlike standard electrical stimulation, its DC waveform lets athletes move during treatment when paired with a structured training program.

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The NS1 with its label and Elite wordmark, beside electrode pads on a leg

YOUR MUSCLES SHUT DOWN AFTER AN ACL INJURY. THAT’S THE REAL PROBLEM.

Here’s what nobody told you before surgery: the moment your ACL tears or gets reconstructed, your nervous system hits the emergency brake.

Your quads go quiet. Your hamstrings stop firing the way they should. Your brain literally tells those muscles to shut off: it’s a protective response called arthrogenic muscle inhibition. And while it’s your body trying to keep you safe, it’s also the number one reason ACL recoveries drag on for months longer than they need to.

This isn’t a strength problem. It’s a neurological one.

And that’s exactly where the NS1 comes in.

WHAT IS THE NS1 AND HOW DOES IT WORK FOR ACL RECOVERY?

The NS1 is a portable, FDA-cleared direct current (DC) stimulation device. But calling it a “stim device” doesn’t really do it justice.

The NS1, front view: screen, Elite wordmark and keypad

FDA-cleared. Portable. Powerful.

Industry-leading power and portability.

  • Direct current technology that allows movement during stimulation
  • Used by athletes like Saquon Barkley, LeAnna Cruz, Grady Jarrett, Nakobe Dean, Lina Miller and Alim McNeill
  • Home-ready for consistent daily training

Here’s the difference in plain terms.

Most electrical stimulation devices use alternating current (AC). When you turn those up high enough to actually make a difference, your muscles lock up. You can’t move. You just sit there while your quad twitches. That’s fine for basic maintenance, but it won’t get you back on the field.

The NS1 uses a specific DC waveform that lets you move while the current is running. That means you can do actual exercises (squats, hip hinges, quad sets) while the device is driving current directly into the muscles that shut down after surgery.

Why that matters for your ACL recovery.

When you combine high-intensity DC stimulation with movement, you’re not just zapping a muscle. You’re re-educating your nervous system. You’re teaching your brain to turn those muscles back on. And you’re doing it in a way that builds real, functional strength, not just a temporary contraction on a treatment table.

Our athletes consistently say it feels “10x more powerful” than anything they’ve used before. Not because it hurts, because it actually finds the muscles that aren’t working and makes them fire.

DIRECT CURRENT VS. ALTERNATING CURRENT: WHY IT MATTERS FOR ACL RECOVERY.

If you’re researching electrical stimulation for ACL rehab, you’re going to see a lot of options. Most of them use alternating current.

Here’s why we chose direct current technology and built our entire program around it:

Alternating current (AC) devices.

Cycle the current back and forth rapidly. At low levels, they feel fine. But when you crank up the intensity to the point where they’d actually create meaningful change, the muscles seize up. You can’t move. You can’t exercise. The session becomes passive.

Direct current (DC) devices like the NS1.

Deliver current in one direction with a specific pulsed waveform. This allows athletes to tolerate high-intensity stimulation while performing active movements. The result is more muscle recruitment, better neuromuscular re-education, and measurable progress in less time.

The research supports this.

Studies on electrical stimulation show it can accelerate healing at the cellular level, promote blood flow to surgical sites, and create neuromuscular adaptations that standard physical therapy protocols alone may not achieve as quickly.

That research covers electrical stimulation as a category, not the NS1 specifically.

Why we chose DC technology.

After reviewing the available research and testing multiple technologies, Evan found that only DC stimulation addressed the key limitations that slow down ACL recovery. Everything else he tested could handle one or two of those barriers. This one technology could address them all.

Coach Evan on a one-on-one virtual session with an athlete wearing NS1 pads

BUILT FOR ATHLETES WHO DON’T WANT TO BE STUCK IN A CLINIC.

One of the biggest things that sets the NS1 apart is its size.

Truly portable recovery technology.

This is a sleek, portable device. You can take it on a plane. You can use it in your living room. You can bring it to the field for pre-practice activation. It goes wherever your recovery needs to happen.

That matters because ACL recovery isn’t a 3-times-a-week-at-the-clinic situation. The athletes who recover fastest are the ones who stay consistent: putting in work between PT sessions, not just during them.

With the NS1 and virtual Elite ACL training sessions, our athletes get trained through high-intensity sessions from anywhere in the country. You don’t need to live near us. You don’t need to drive to a facility. You just need the device, an internet connection, and the drive to put in the work.

Pocket-sized.

The NS1 was built for athletes who need mobility, consistency, and a seamless recovery routine, delivering high-level performance in a device small enough to fit in your pocket.

IT’S NOT JUST THE DEVICE. IT’S HOW WE USE IT.

Here’s something important: you could have the best technology in the world and still not get results if you don’t know how to use it.

We’ve seen this firsthand. Athletes come to us after months of using similar DC technology with other programs and not getting the progress they expected. It’s not the device that was the problem: it was the programming, the system, and the training behind it.

The Elite System is a 5-stage system built specifically around how DC technology can be used at each phase of ACL recovery:

  1. Prehab.

    2 to 4 weeks before surgery. Start before day one. We take baseline Stimulation Threshold Index (STI) readings on both legs, then use the NS1 during guided movement to calm the knee, restore range of motion, and get the quad firing.

  2. Reactivate.

    Months 0 to 2. Turn the quad back on. Every session pairs the NS1 with active movement for muscle re-education.

  3. Rebuild.

    Months 2 to 4. Find the guarding and clear it. The NS1 scan shows us where to work. We then work those areas with the NS1 during movement and keep tracking STI.

  4. Return.

    Months 5 to 9. Train for the game, test for the return. We use the NS1 during shuffles, cuts, and sport-specific patterns, individualized to your sport and position, and add speed and decisions so knee control holds up when your attention is somewhere else.

  5. Build Beyond.

    Months 10 and on. Keep the foundation trained. Build Beyond is our ongoing program for athletes who are back in sport. It keeps the basics hard: symmetry, control, and force absorption, with periodic NS1 scans and STI checks to make sure the patterns we cleared stay cleared.

Timelines are typical, not promises: your surgeon’s protocol and your PT’s testing decide when you move forward. The STI and NS1 scan are Elite ACL’s own measures, not published clinical tests and not diagnostic. They guide where we train.

THE DEVICE IS THE TOOL. THE METHODOLOGY IS WHAT GETS THE RESULTS.

Each stage has a specific training plan, specific intensity targets, and specific training cues.

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WHY THE NS1 IS DIFFERENT.

Built from the ground up for clinical recovery and high-performance training.

  • Powerful.

    Up to 100 mA of direct current. The intensity that drives real neuromuscular change, in your hand.

  • Fully portable.

    Phone-sized. No wall outlet. Sideline, clubhouse, home.

  • Adjustable pulse width.

    Upper body needs a different pulse width than lower. We adjust for each region.

  • Constant current regulation.

    Output auto-adjusts to maintain consistent contact, so you get consistent output.

  • 5-500 Hz frequency range.

    A wide therapeutic window in one device: from low-frequency recovery work to high-frequency activation.

  • Head-to-toe application.

    Recovery, performance, rehab, sport. The full body through the nervous system, not just localized muscles.

  • Broad FDA clearance.

    Class II clearance spanning muscle re-education, atrophy prevention, circulation, range of motion, and even acute and chronic pain.

    • Relaxation of muscle spasm
    • Prevention or retardation of disuse atrophy
    • Increasing local blood circulation
    • Muscle re-education
    • Maintaining or increasing range of motion
    • Immediate post-surgical stimulation of calf muscles to prevent venous thrombosis
    • Management of chronic or intractable pain
    • Post-traumatic acute pain
    • Post-surgical acute pain

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NS1 AND ACL RECOVERY.

What is the NS1?

The NS1 is an FDA-cleared portable direct current (DC) stimulation device used in ACL recovery. It reactivates and re-educates muscles and restores range of motion by allowing athletes to exercise while receiving high-intensity stimulation, something standard AC-based devices can’t do effectively.

Is the NS1 FDA cleared?

Yes. The NS1 is FDA cleared for relaxation of muscle spasm, prevention or retardation of disuse atrophy, increasing local blood circulation, muscle re-education, maintaining or increasing range of motion, immediate post-surgical stimulation of calf muscles to prevent venous thrombosis, management of chronic or intractable pain, and post-traumatic and post-surgical acute pain. The Elite ACL training program uses the device within its FDA-cleared indications.

Can I use the NS1 at home?

Yes. The NS1 was designed for home use and portability. Elite ACL athletes use it during virtual training sessions from anywhere in the country. No clinic visits required.

How is Elite ACL different from just buying a device?

The device is only one part of the equation. Elite ACL provides expert training through a 5-stage program built specifically for ACL recovery. Athletes who use DC technology without structured programming often don’t see the same results. Our methodology (developed over a decade of working with professional athletes) is what drives the outcomes.

Does Elite ACL replace my physical therapist?

No. Elite ACL doesn’t replace your PT or medical team. Elite ACL supplements your physical therapy by addressing specific recovery barriers (like muscle deactivation and neuromuscular re-education) that traditional rehab may not target as aggressively. Your physician and PT always lead your medical care.

How fast will I see results with the NS1?

Results vary by individual, but our case studies consistently show athletes achieving full range of motion within the first 1-3 weeks of movement-based rehab, and reaching 12-week functional benchmarks that typically aren’t expected until 16-24 weeks post-surgery.

What does a session with Elite ACL look like?

Sessions are conducted virtually via video call. Your trainer guides you through targeted exercises while the NS1 delivers DC stimulation to the specific muscle groups being trained. Sessions typically run 20-25 minutes of high-intensity work. Athletes describe the experience as challenging but productive. You’ll feel muscles working that haven’t fired since before your injury.

Is this only for professional athletes?

Not at all. Our program serves athletes at every level, from high school to professional. The training is the same. Whether you’re trying to get back for your senior season or return to the NFL, you get access to the same technology and methodology.

THERE’S STILL
MORE AHEAD.

We work with a limited number of athletes each month to maintain the quality of our training. If you’re recovering from an ACL injury or preparing for surgery, the best first step is to apply for an in-home trial.

We’ll talk through where you are in your recovery, what barriers you’re facing, and whether our program is the right fit for your situation. No pressure, no sales pitch: just an honest conversation about what’s possible.

Apply for an in-home trial