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Electrotherapy uses currents with various waveforms, frequencies and intensities to reduce pain and enhance the natural healing response. A small electrical device will deliver electrical impulses that stimulate nerves and muscles through the skin.
Benefits of Electrotherapy include:
- Electrotherapy releases endorphins that reduce pain and discomfort by unblocking electrical impulse pathways
- Enhances the body’s natural healing mechanism by improving blood circulation
- Reduced inflammation
- Relaxation of muscle tissues
- Acceleration of tissue regeneration
Electrotherapy can speed up the healing process by 1.5-2.5 times, and helps provide stronger, thicker scar tissue to ensure the wound is closed. Studies also show that electrotherapy is beneficial in keeping the wound infection-free!(1)
(1) Carley, P.J. and Wainapel, S.F. (1985). Electrotherapy for acceleration of wound healing: low intensity direct current. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 66(7), pp.443–446. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3893385/.
Electrotherapy is suitable for the following conditions:
- Musculoskeletal system diseases: arthrosis, degenerative, rheumatic, back pain, osteoporosis, arthritis, and discopathy diseases
- Nervous system disease: sciatica, brachialgia, chronic inflammation of the plexus and nerve roots, neuralgia, inflammation of peripheral nerves, irritation of nerve root
- Diseases and pathological conditions of tissues: scars and contractures, wound and ulcer healing, hematomas and oedema
- Weakness and impairment of muscle work i.e., reduction of muscle tone
- Shoulder, hip, wrist, ankle, or joint pain
- Labour pain
- Shin splints
FAQs:
1. Is the treatment painful?
It is a non-invasive treatment method, and is not painful. Patients feel relaxed during sessions. Some experience vibration or little tingling in the body.
2. What are the different types of Electrotherapy waveforms?
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) uses a small electrical devise to deliver electrical impulses to the nerves which provides pain relief. It is used to treat lower back pain, labour pain and arthritis.(2)
- Interferential therapy is a deeper form of TENS electrotherapy and uses two higher frequency currents. It provides pain relief, muscle stimulation, reduces swelling and improves blood flow.(3)
- Electrical muscle stimulation triggers the motor neurons to contract the muscles, and is mainly used to treat muscle atrophy. It provides pain relief, promotes tissue healing, increases muscle strength/tone, and maintains muscle activity.
- Galvanization uses a direct electric current of low voltage (up to 80V) to achieve muscle contractions. This therapy can be applied to rheumatic and blood vessel diseases, paresis, and circulation disorders.(4)
- Iontophoresis is an electrical stimulation used to administer medication to specific areas in the body. It reduces swelling and inflammation, decreases pain and muscle spasms, and assists with managing scar tissue. It works by applying low voltage electric currents to push the medication to the injured tissues.(5)
- Microcurrents use currents 1000 times less than that of TENS therapy to relieve pain and accelerate natural healing. This therapy can help with pain management, improving pain from cancer, fractures, tendon and ligament tears.(6)
- Tonolysis is a series of pulses that decreases muscle tension. It is most commonly used in conditions with spasticity.(7)
- Trbaert currents use a frequency of 143Hz to apply electric currents near the spinal column. This therapy, which is most commonly used for back pain, provides pain relief, reduces muscle spasm and increases blood flow.(8)
- Diadynamic currents is a low frequency modality (50Hz) that offers pain relief, stimulates blood circulation, and assists with repairing damaged tissue.(9)
- Kotz currents uses frequencies of 2.5kHz (medium intensity) which allows for deeper penetration into bodily tissue. This enhances muscle functionality and long-term mobility. It is an important therapy for orthopaedics, such as scoliosis.(10)
(2) Physiopedia. (2020). Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS). https://www.physio-pedia.com/Transcutaneous_Electrical_Nerve_Stimulation_(TENS).(3) Physiopedia. (2022). Interferential Therapy / Interferential Current (IFC). https://www.physio-pedia.com/Interferential_Therapy_/_Interferential_Current_(IFC).(4) Physiotherapy News. (2020). Galvanization therapy in medicine. https://www.physiobook.com/physical-therapy/electrotherapy/galvanization-therapy.html.(5) Verywell Health. (2022). How Do Physical Therapists Administer Medication with Iontophoresis. https://www.verywellhealth.com/iontophoresis-in-physical-therapy-2696534.(6) JOSEPH M. MERCOLA, DO AND DANIEL L. KIRSCH, PHD, DAAPM (2017). The Basis for Microcurrent Electrical Therapy in Conventional Medical Practice. Frequency Specific Microcurrent. https://frequencyspecific.com/the-basis-for-microcurrent-electrical-therapy-in-conventional-medical-practice/ [Accessed 8 Aug. 2022].
(7) Kudzia, J. (2022). Tonolysis. Fizjotechnologia. https://fizjotechnologia.com/en/areas-of-physiotherapy/electrotherapy/tonolysis.html [Accessed 8 Aug. 2022].(8) Clinicaltrials.gov. (2018). The Effectiveness of Short-term Massage Versus Trabert Current Therapy in Patients With Low Back Pain - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov. at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03772093 [Accessed 21 Nov. 2019].(9) Białek, J. (2014). Diadynamic currents. Fizjotechnologia. https://fizjotechnologia.com/en/areas-of-physiotherapy/electrotherapy/diadynamic-currents.html [Accessed 8 Aug. 2022].(10) Factory Wellness Blog. (2012). The Di Kotz «Factory Wellness Blog. https://fabbricabenessere.it/blog/en/le-correnti-di-kotz/ [Accessed 8 Aug. 2022].
3. How can Electrotherapy help with Women’s Health?
Low-frequency low-intensity electrotherapy can be used to aid with lymphatic drainage after radiotherapy or chemotherapy for breast cancer. It has been found that when using electrotherapy for lymphatic drainage, the results show a better health-related quality of life.(11)
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) electrotherapy can also be used to help with pain from endometriosis. Patients have seen improvements in their chronic pelvic pain and pain associated with sexual intercourse.(12)
For more information about how Modern Physiotherapy can help with Women’s Health, clik here.
(11) Belmonte, R., Tejero, M., Ferrer, M., Muniesa, J.M., Duarte, E., Cunillera, O. and Escalada, F. (2011). Efficacy of low-frequency low-intensity electrotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer-related lymphoedema: a cross-over randomized trial. Clinical Rehabilitation, 26(7), pp.607–618. doi:10.1177/0269215511427414.(12) Mira, T.A.A., Yela, D.A., Podgaec, S., Baracat, E.C. and Benetti-Pinto, C.L. (2020). Hormonal treatment isolated versus hormonal treatment associated with electrotherapy for pelvic pain control in deep endometriosis: Randomized clinical trial. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 255, pp.134–141. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.10.018.