INTRODUCTION TO ELECTROTHERAPY

WHAT IS ELECTROTHERAPY

Electrotherapy is the application of electrical energy as the primary source of energy for therapeutic purpose which include applications of various forms of different therapeutic frequency currents by using electrotherapy modalities to produce electrical impulses which will penetrate into the body tissues to give therapeutic and physiologic effects.

SCOPE OF ELECTROTHERAPY

Electrotherapy has been used since recent years back. which is a non-surgical treatment approach, characterized by the treatment of various diseases and disorders by electrical means.

the basic physics of electricity used in electrotherapy include: light, heat, cold and mechanics. which physiotherapists used for therapeutic purpose and we all know these natural phenomena in our daily practice.

Moreover, the electromagnetic spectrum, ranging from radio waves to gamma radiations. especially infrared, visible light and ultraviolet radiations are the main source of electrotherapy modalities which physiotherapists are using to produce various band of energy, artificially to apply them conveniently in the form of therapeutic tools for treatment of various diseases.

FREQUENCY CURRENTS USED IN ELECTROTHERAPY

There are three major frequency currents used in electrotherapy which are as follows:

(1) Low frequency current: are therapeutic currents with frequency range between 10Hz to 100Hz. The main therapeutic use of low frequency currents is in the stimulation of nerve, muscles. for examples: TENS, galvanic current, faradic current, interrupted direct current e.t.c.

(2) Medium frequency currents: are the therapeutic currents with frequency range between 1000Hz to 10,000Hz. The main therapeutic use of medium frequency currents is in the stimulation of deep tissues such as nerves, muscles and also for re-education of muscle. for examples: Russian current, interferencial current e.t.c.

(3) High frequency currents: are the therapeutic currents whose their frequency range is more than 10,000Hz. Their main therapeutic use is for the production of deep heat in the tissues. for examples: short wave diathermy, therapeutic ultrasound, microwave diathermy e.t.c.

All these therapeutic frequency currents can be apply to penetrate into the body tissues in various forms either in form of heat, cold, light, sound, vibration or even in form of  radiations by using electrotherapy modalities which are being designed for therapeutic purpose.

Also these therapeutic frequency currents have different penetration depths into the body tissues. hence, some of them can only penetrate to the superficial tissues and some can penetrate to the deep tissues of the body. when these frequency currents penetrate into the body tissues, they produce different effects which include the following:

  • Physiological effects 
  • Therapeutic effects
  • Neurological effects
  • Mechanical effects
  • Metabolic changes

Moreover, these therapeutic frequency currents are also used in Electrodiagnosis such as electrocardiography (ECG), eletcromyography (EMG) and Biofeedback e.t.c.



 

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