Electrotherapy

basics of electric therapy

1. Electrotherapy

2. What is electrotherapy? Electrotherapy (also known as electrical muscle stimulation or e-stim) use of electric currents that delivers electrical impulses to a patient’s body to promote and facilitate muscle healing and tissue regeneration

3. Why electrotherapy? Electrotherapy in physical therapy is for: Relaxation of muscle spasms, Prevention and retardation of disuse atrophy, Increase of local blood circulation, Muscle rehabilitation, Electrical muscle stimulation, Maintaining and increasing range of motion, Management of chronic and intractable pain, Immediate post-surgical stimulation of muscles to prevent venous thrombosis, Facilitation of wound healing.

4. Galvanic current: When a steady flow of direct current is passed through tissue, its effect is primarily chemical. It causes the movement of ions and their collection at the skin areas lying immediately beneath the electrodes. The Galvanic current creates an electric field over the treated area that theoretically, changes blood flow. Direct Galvanic current is mainly used for iontophoresis/ Ionization The intensity of current passed through any part of the body does not exceed 0.3 to 0.5 mA/cm2 of electrode surface. The duration of treatment is 10-20 minutes

5. Faradic current: Faradic current is a sequence of pulses with defined shape and current intensity. The pulse duration is of 0.1-1 m/s and frequency of 50-100 Hz. Faradic current acts upon muscle tissue and upon the motor nerves to produce muscle contraction. There is no ion transfer and consequently, no chemical effect. This may be used for the treatment of muscle weakness after lengthy immobilization and of disuse atrophy . Faradic and galvanic current is a part of electrotherapy, which uses low voltage, low-frequency impulse current for therapeutic uses.

6. Shortwave diathermy: Short Wave Diathermy (SWD) is a treatment that uses electromagnetic energy to produce deep heating in joints and soft tissues. Thus SWD can effectively relieve: joint pain, improve soft tissue healing and decrease the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Best Health Physiotherapists are knowledgeable and experienced in the appropriate application of SWD.

7. Therapeutic uses of shortwave diathermy: Relief of Pain: It is found that a mild degree of heating is effective in relieving pain. Strong superficial heating probably relieves pain by counter irritation. Short-wave diathermy assists in bringing about the resolution of inflammation and so indirectly relieving the pain. Active exercises can thus be performed more efficiently after application of diathermy currents . Duration: 20 minutes

8. Shortwave diathermy Indications Disorders of the musculoskeletal system (sprains strains) Muscle and tendon tears Capsule lesions Degenerative joint disease Chronic inflammatory or infective conditions like, tenosynovitis or bursitis Sinusitis Contraindications Moderate oedema Metallic implants Pacemakers Impaired thermal sensation Unreliable patients like small children and intellectually impaired adults Recent radiotherapy Acute infection or inflammation Pregnancy / menstruation Severe cardiac conditions Severe blood pressure abnormalities.

9. Interferential therapy unit(ift) Interferential current therapy is an effective therapy option used by many physiotherapy clinics to relieve pain and accelerate the self-healing process, getting your body back to a healthy, pain free state.  The high frequency signals of an IFC penetrate through the skin into deeper lying muscle tissues. Interferential Current (also referred to as IFC) is the waveform to use when treating chronic, post-surgical and post-trauma acute pain.

10. Therapeutic uses of Interferential therapy unit ( ift ): This form of therapy is also extremely useful in: Reducing pain, inflammation, curing edema, and spasms. Reduces or eliminates your pain safely. Noticeable decrease in swelling and inflammation. Restores lost movement and improves restricted movements and coordination. Stimulates the natural hormones which can help your body heal faster. Considered by many experts as a highly effective form of treatment for chronic pain.

11. INTERFERENTIAL THERAPY UNIT(IFT): INDICATIONS Interferential therapy is not effective in post-traumatic pain in the acute stages, but is effective in cases of chronic pain with or without swelling, particularly after prolonged immobilization. CONTRAINDICATIONS Artificial pacemakers • Infective conditions, e.g. tuberculosis • Malignant tumours • Unreliable patients (mentally retarded).

12. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (tens) Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is the transmission of electrical energy through the skin to the nervous system. These are usually battery operated with a current output (intensity) of 0-60 mA, and are thus portable, enabling the physical therapist to provide pain relief even at home for patients who cannot come to the physiotherapy center.

13. Parameters of tens: Frequency —varies from 5 Hz to 500 Hz • Intensity —can be altered until a tingling sensation is felt. It should not be painful or cause muscle contraction • Application of electrodes —the electrodes (2 or 4) are applied with conducting gel on the patient skin, above and below or even over the painful spot, or sometimes over acupuncture points, trigger points, affected nerves or dermatomes.

14. Indications: • Chronic pain syndromes like back pain and cervicobrachial neuralgia. • Phantom limb pain • Trigeminal and Postherpetic neuralgia Contraindications: • Cardiac pacemakers • Cardiac arrhythmias • Poor sensation.

15. References: https://www.physio-pedia.com https://www.pthealth.ca https://www.physiounit.com https://en.Wikipedia.org S.Sundar MBBS dip Phys Med, Textbook of Rehabilitation Science, third edition,2010

16. Thankyou!!! Presented by , S.Shobitha Sankar