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About Electrotherapy
Electrotherapy is a physical
therapeutic treatment whereby electrical stimulation is applied to nerves and
muscle-motor fibers via electro-pads placed on the skin.
Electrotherapy devices work in
slightly different ways, depending on what type of problem they are treating.
Certain devices excel at treating pain, while others specialize in muscle
stimulation.
Electrotherapy devices that help
control both chronic and acute pain fall into one of three categories:
Interferential, Microcurrent, or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
(TENS). Each type of device works in a slightly different way, but they all
provide an effective, non-narcotic alternative or supplement to drug therapy.
| Click on the links below for more info on each type |
TENS
TENS devices use a two-pronged approach to pain
relief. First, they target your sensory nerves, stimulating them to block
pain signals and prevent their transmission to the brain. Second, TENS
promotes production of endorphins, the body’s natural pain reducing
substances. Because of its effectiveness, TENS therapy is used to treat
back and cervical muscular and disc syndromes, RSD, arthritis, shoulder
syndromes, neuropathies and other painful conditions. |
Neuromuscular
Stimulation (NMS) or EMS
An injured muscle usually experiences little
if any movement. EMS therapy remedies this by using low-voltages to
stimulate motor nerves to cause involuntary muscular contractions.
Like exercise, EMS helps to strengthen the injured area and has been found
to effectively treat a variety of musculoskeletal and vascular conditions.
Common candidates for EMS therapy are patients recovering from orthopedic
surgery, muscle strains or tears, or athletes who’ve undergone cartilage
or tendon repair. |
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Microcurrent
Therapy
Microcurrent therapy is thought to mimic the
body’s own electrical system. It uses subtle current to build upon
naturally occurring impulses to decrease pain. Microcurrent devices take
what you already have and make it stronger, amplifying your ability to
heal.
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Interferential
Therapy
Interferential therapy devices use two separate
electrical frequencies that work together to stimulate large impulse nerve
fibers; ones that close the gate. Their frequencies interfere with the
transmission of pain messages at the spinal cord level, and help block
their transmission to your brain. Obviously, the fewer pain messages that
make it through, the less it hurts.
Because of the frequency,
the Interferential wave meets low impedance when crossing the skin to
enter the underlying tissue. This deep tissue penetration can be adjusted
to stimulate parasympathetic nerve fibers for increased blood flow.
Interferential Stimulation differs from TENS because it allows a deeper
penetration of the tissue with more comfort (compliance) and increased
circulation.
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High
or Low Voltage Direct Current Therapy
Injured tissues are often surrounded by an
excess of fluid, which prevents nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood from
reaching them. Pulsed direct current devices remove excess fluid and
increase blood flow to the injured site to encourage rehabilitation.
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| Difference
between TENS and Interferential - article from the Journal of
American Physical Therapy Association
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