Basics of Electrotherapy

Electro - Medicine: An Introduction to Electro Modalities

1. ELECTRO -MEDICINE
An Introduction
to
Electro Modalities

2. DEFINITION
Electrotherapy is the use of electrical
stimulation for therapeutic purposes.
Specifically, electrotherapy uses energy waves
that are part of the electromagnetic spectrum
to produce desired physiological and chemical
effects in the body.
(Encyclopedia of Nursing & Allied Health)

3. HISTORY
"...For any sort of foot gout, when the pain comes on it is
good to put a living black torpedo fish under his feet
while standing on the beach, not dry but one on which
the sea washes, until he feels that his whole foot and
ankle are numb up to the knees."
(Scribonium Largus,
Physician to the Roman emperor Claudius in 47 AD)

4. 

5. Approaches to Electrotherapy
Deliver energy to
overcome the energy
of the membrane and
thereby force it to
change behaviour
e.g., Laser
Deliver much smaller
energy levels, and
instead of forcing the
membrane to change
behaviour
e.g., micro currents

6. CLASSIFICATION
According to fields of Application
Electro-diagnosis
e.g., S.D Curve, Galvanic Faradic tests
Electrotherapy
e.g., TENS, IFT

7. CLASSIFICATION Contd..
According to frequency ranges
•Low frequency (<1000Hz)
e.g., Galvanic currents, Faradic currents
•Middle Frequency (1000-100.000Hz)
e.g., Interferential current therapy
•High Frequency (>100.000Hz)
e.g., Short-waves, Microwaves-therapy

8. CLASSIFICATION Contd..
According to historical aspects
Bernard’s currents(Diadynamic currents)
Nemec’s current(Interferential currents)
Träbert & Galvan currents (Muscle Stimulating currents)
Kotz’s Currents or Russian Stimulation (Muscle
Stimulating currents)

9. CLASSIFICATION Contd..
According to temperature
Thermotherapy or Heat therapy
Cryotherapy or Cold therapy

10. CLASSIFICATION Contd..
Based on the light waves
•Infra red radiations
•Ultraviolet radiations –Actinotherapy
•LASER

11. CLASSIFICATION Contd..
Based on the heat transfer mode
Conduction -Hot pack, paraffin bath
Convection -Fluidotherapy, hydrotherapy,
moist air
Conversion -Radiant heat

12. CLASSIFICATION Contd..
Based on mode of heat production
Endogenous heat
-The heat produced within the body
e.g., SWD, MWD
Exogenous heat
-The heat is fed into the body from the outside
e.g., IRR, Heat Packs

13. PHONOPHORESIS
A therapeutic technique in which
ultrasound waves are used to force
topical medicines, such as
hydrocortisone, aspirin, and lidocaine,
into subcutaneous tissues.

14. Transcutaneous Electrical
Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
It is a method of electrical
stimulation which primarily
aims to provide a degree
of symptomatic pain relief
by exciting sensory nerves
and thereby stimulating
either the pain gate
mechanism and/or the
opioid system.

15. Interferential therapy
It utilises two medium
frequency currents,
passed through the
tissues simultaneously,
where they are set up
so that their paths cross
& they literally interfere
with each other to
produce low frequency
effect

16. IONTHOPHORESIS
A therapeutic technique that uses a local
electric current to introduce the ions of a
medicine into the tissues
Works on the principle that likes repel
and unlikes attract
Ions with a polarity which is the same as
that of the stimulating electrode are
repelled into the skin

17. PERCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL NERVE
STIMULATION(PENS)
It combines advantages ofelectroacupuncture
and TENS.
Acupuncture like needle probes are used as
electrodes
The main advantage of PENS over TENS is
that it bypasses local skin resistance and
delivers electrical stimuli at the precisely
desired level in close proximity to the nerve
endings located in soft tissue, muscle, or
periosteum

18. Microcurrent therapy (MENS)
MENS is extremely small pulsating currents of
electricity.
These currents are finely tuned to the level of
the normal electrical exchanges which take
place at body’s cellular level.
It works on ARNDT -SCHULTZ Law which
states that : “Weak stimuli increases
physiological activity and very strong stimuli
inhibit or abolish activity.”

19. LASER
Laser Therapy is a form of phototherapy
which involves the application of
monochromatic light over biological
tissue to elicit a biomodulative effect
within that tissue.
It assist in the attenuation of pain and to
stimulate tissue repair.

20. Spinal decompression therapy
It is a non-surgical, comfortable traction
therapy for the relief of back and leg pain or
neck and arm pain.
During this procedure, by cycling through
distraction and relaxation phases and by
proper positioning, a spinal disc can be
isolated and placed under negative pressure,
causing a vacuum effect within it.

21. Combination therapy
It involves the
simultaneous application
of ultrasound (US) with
an electrical stimulation
therapy.
In Europe, Diadynamic
Currents are frequently
utilised, but in the UK,
US is most often
combined with bipolar
Interferential Therapy
(IF).

22. SHOCK WAVE THERAPY or
EXTRACORPORAL SHOCKWAVE
THERAPY
The shock waves are highly intensive
acoustic waves of very short duration.
The therapeutic effect of shock waves
can be attributed to the mechanical
pressure and tension the wave exerts on
the tissue.
Mainly useful for treating musculo
Skeletal problems

23. Magnetic field therapy
It is the use of magnetic
fields, generated by either
permanent magnets or
pulsed electromagnetic
fields, for treatment of
medical conditions.
useful in eliminate pain,
facilitate healing of broken
bones, and counter the
effects of stress.

24. Bio feedback
According to Weiner, it can be defined
as a method of controlling a system by
reinserting into it the results of its past
performance.
Useful for normalize the abnormal tone,
muscle re education, balance training
etc.

25. Balance Master
It provides objective
assessment and retraining
of the sensory and voluntary
motor control of balance
with visual biofeedback on
either a stable or unstable
support surface and in a
stable or dynamic visual
environment.

26. THANK YOU