Electrotherapy Book

[Livia Dossantos]

Electrotherapy includes a range of treatments using electricity to reduce pain, improve circulation, repair tissues, strengthen muscles, and promote bone growth, leading to improvements in physical functioning.

Electrotherapy units usually consist of a battery-powered device connected by wires to adhesive electrode pads which are placed on the skin. The electrode pads are sticky, so they will adhere to the skin. Once the electrodes are attached and the unit is turned on, a mild electric current is sent to the skin via the electrode.

A number of newer electrotherapy devices bypass the wires, combining electrodes and battery power into a single unit that can be worn inconspicuously on the back, arm, leg, or elsewhere during work or other daily activities. A hand-held controller is used to adjust the level of stimulation.

While a large number of people find electrotherapy helpful, others do not. The medical literature on electrotherapy's effectiveness has been mixed, and not all electrotherapy treatments are supported by research.

Electrotherapy devices range in cost from less than $30 to hundreds of dollars. Several of the newer products are available over the counter, offering flexibility for those who can afford them. Devices sold without a prescription are often not covered by insurance, but people with health savings accounts may be able to apply funds from these accounts toward the cost. Trying electrotherapy in a medical or physical therapy setting before purchasing a unit may be helpful, since the therapy does not work for everyone. In some cases, a device can be returned if the treatment is not helpful, so saving the receipt is advised.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) verifies that these medical devices are safe to use, but does not test whether the devices are effective. Interestingly, the FDA process for approving a medical device is less rigorous than the approval process for drugs, which requires the pharmaceutical company to show evidence of a drug's effectiveness before introducing it to the market.

Electrotherapy is typically used in conjunction with other treatments, rather than by itself. For people undergoing physical therapy, electrotherapy may alleviate pain sufficiently for an individual to participate more actively in targeted exercises. Electrotherapy is among pain relief options gaining attention as the potential risks and side effects of opioid (narcotic) medications have become more apparent.

Efforts to use electrical current to aid in healing go back to ancient times. The modern era of electrotherapy in the United States began with treatment for anxiety and depression, and the number of potential uses has grown since. Electrotherapy has been used to address chronic pain and chronic fatigue in general, as well as:

Dr. John Revord is a physiatrist specializing in the management of spine pain. He has more than 25 years of experience in spine care and practices at the NeuroSpine Center of Wisconsin. Dr. Revord is specially trained in a range of non-surgical procedures, and he has co-authored articles published in peer-reviewed journals.

This site is for educational purposes only; no information is intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The information is produced and reviewed by over 200 medical professionals with the goal of providing trusted, uniquely informative information for people with painful health conditions.

Electrical myostimulation may increase muscle mass after an injury, promoting healing. You can see gains of about 1% in muscle mass and a boost of 10% to 15% in muscle function within five to six weeks of undergoing therapy. For the best results, you should do three or more treatment sessions in a week. The intensity of these sessions can be adjusted according to your tolerance levels.

Electrical myostimulation for people with heart failure. Electrotherapy also helps people with chronic heart failure to improve their exercise capacity. It can be used as a replacement for physical exercise during heart failure management. Electrical myostimulation may be used to stimulate the heart and lungs in the same way that physical exercise does. People with chronic heart failure can get the same benefits from electrotherapy as from exercise training.

In addition to being a suitable option for people with diabetes or heart failure, electrical myostimulation helps to manage the loss of muscle mass and muscle function in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart disease, or end-stage renal disease.

Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation are effective for managing moderate and mild levels of pain. Spinal cord stimulation is used to treat persistent pain and ischemic limb pain. High tone external muscle stimulation is used to provide pain relief in the management of peripheral neuropathy for people who have diabetes or end-stage renal disease.

Physiotherapists use a variety of tools to manage pain, restore range of motion, and treat conditions of the musculoskeletal system. Along with methods like joint mobilisation, stretching, and targeted exercises, your physiotherapist might recommend electrotherapy as a treatment option.

Using specialised devices designed to deliver customised levels of electrical stimulation to your body's nerves, muscles, or tendons, trained physiotherapists can harness the power of electrotherapy to promote treat injuries, promote healing, and offer pain relief.

Electrotherapy is a gentle and non-invasive modality that works by stimulating nerves and muscles through the surface of the skin. Though it varies based on which device your practitioner uses, electrotherapy is thought to work in a variety of ways:

In other forms of electrotherapy, your physiotherapist will use a transducer with gel to transmit specialised ultrasound waves into your body. When you go for a session, your physiotherapist might use one of these methods in treatment:

One of the most common electrotherapy treatments, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) makes use of small devices which deliver pulses of electrical stimulation. The goal of the TENS machine is to stimulate sensory nerves to achieve pain relief and is often used for both nerve pain and chronic pain conditions.

Also known as IFT, interferential electrotherapy uses low-frequency electrical stimulation to stimulate muscles, increase blood flow, and reduce pain. IFT is sometimes used for patients who dislike the sensation of TENS electrotherapy.

Ordinarily, acupuncture makes use of thin needles inserted at specific points which target different organs or bodily systems. Electroacupuncture follows the same principles, except it uses two needles with an electric current that passes between them. It's often used to treat chemotherapy side effects and acute pain.

In shockwave therapy, acoustic waves with high energy are used to treat conditions. Like therapeutic ultrasound, shockwave therapy makes use of a transducer with gel. This therapy is used to help stimulate collagen production, release painful trigger points, and reduce inflammation in the body. It's also very useful for musculoskeletal conditions like plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, and Achilles tendinopathy.

While some methods of electrotherapy target nerves, EMS targets muscle tissue. This specialised form of electrotherapy stimulates your motor neurons which causes your muscles to contract. This is often used in cases to treat and prevent muscle atrophy.

Your physiotherapist can help you figure out which electrotherapy method works best for you and your needs. Depending on your medical or musculoskeletal condition, electrotherapy can offer several key benefits:

Those who suffer from nerve pain experience numbness, tingling, burning, muscle weakness, and general pain throughout the body. Though the causes for nerve pain vary, the pain is attributed to your body's nerves sending out electrical impulses that carry pain signals. In cases of nerve pain, a physiotherapist can use a TENS machine to target and reduce nerve pain by interfering with or "confusing" the pain signals your body transmits.

Some electrotherapy modalities, especially a shockwave therapy treatment, have been shown to effectively treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. Not only can shockwave therapy reduce pain, but it can help increase blood flow to an injured area which can stimulate the healing process. You might find that shockwave therapy is useful for injuries like:

Electrotherapy offers a safe, non-toxic, and non-addictive way to handle chronic pain. Whether you suffer from chronic neck or back pain, you know that these conditions can make it difficult to perform activities of daily living and can reduce your quality of life.

When it comes to electrotherapy treatments, most patients experience pain relief and healing with relatively few side effects. In fact, the most common side effect from electrotherapy can often be traced back to the adhesives used in securing the electrode pad to the skin, which can occasionally trigger a rash or allergic reaction on the site. You may experience some slight discomfort during treatment, but electrotherapy is generally a pain-free methodology with no long-lasting side effects.

If you are currently experiencing chronic pain or are struggling with musculoskeletal conditions or injuries, then electrotherapy might be a good option for you. To ensure you receive professional care from educated professionals, seek a qualified physiotherapist in London who offers electrotherapy treatment.

Electrotherapy is the use of electrical energy as a medical treatment.[1] In medicine, the term electrotherapy can apply to a variety of treatments, including the use of electrical devices such as deep brain stimulators for neurological disease. The term has also been applied specifically to the use of electric current to speed wound healing. The use of EMS is also very wide for managing muscular pain. Additionally, the term "electrotherapy" or "electromagnetic therapy" has also been applied to a range of alternative medical devices and treatments. Evidence supporting the effectiveness of electrotherapy is limited.

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