Low Frequency Currents

Dr.Gulraiz
DPT,MPPTA,
FDN
MSPT (Musculoskeletal)
 Therapeutic currents

➢ The currents used for the treatment

purpose is called therapeutic currents.
➢ According to the difference in frequencies,
the currents can be divided into the
following three types.
 Therapeutic currents

1. Low frequency currents

2. Medium frequency currents

3. High frequency currents

 Low frequency currents

• The current which has frequency ranging

from 1 – 1000 Hz is called low frequency
current.
Examples:
• Diadynamic Current, TENS, Direct
current, Faradic current , sinusoidal
current.
 Medium frequency currents

➢ The currents which have frequency

distribution ranging from 1000 – 10000 Hz
are called medium frequency currents.
➢ Examples:
➢ Interferential therapy, Russian current
 High Frequency currents

➢ The currents having frequency above

10000 Hz are called high frequency
currents.
➢ Examples:
➢ Short Wave Diathermy, Microwave
Diathermy, Infrared Radiations,
Ultrasound.
 SINUSOIDAL CURRENT
• It is evenly alternating, biphasic low
frequency current whose waveform
resembles to sine curve. Sinusoidal
current is obtained from the AC
street current by suitable
modification through a step-down
transformer.

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SINUSOIDAL CURRENT

• Its frequency is 50 to 100 HZ and

pulse duration is 10ms. Sinusoidal
current is classified on the basis of
frequency as slow sinusoidal and
rapid sinusoidal current.

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SINUSOIDAL CURRENT
• Frequency of slow
sinusoidal current is 100 Hz.
Practically sinusoidal
current resembles to
faradic current both in
effects as well as method of
application. Nowadays, it is
rarely used for the
treatment purpose.
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Faradic-type current
• Faradic-type of current is used
therapeutically for stimulation of
weak or paralyzed muscles, the
treatment of injuries and as a
diagnostic means.
• This current is produced from an
interrupted DC, derived either from
batteries or rectified mains current.

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Faradic-type current

• Faradic type of current is composed

of relatively wide high energy
electrical pulses, traditionally having
duration (pulse width) of 1
millisecond (1,000 microsecond) and
occurring at a frequency 50 to 100 Hz
(Hertz). i.e. 50 to 100 pulses per
second.

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Faradic-type current

• The current is applied through

electrode pads strapped to the body
and connected to the EMS (electrical
muscle stimulation) device by
insulated wire leads.
• At high intensities the current will
stimulate muscle tissue, as opposed
to nerve stimulation.

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Faradic-type current

• However, although the current is

localized to individual muscles,
only those tissues which lie in the
area immediately underneath the
electrodes will show response.

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Faradic-type current

• Thus, when faradic type current is

applied to healthy tissue, there
will occur a tetanic muscle
contraction in the area
underneath the electrodes.

• Tetany & Twitch ?

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Side Effects of Faradic-type
current
Some unpleasant side effects are
• Burning
• Swelling
• Itching and redness of the skin
immediately underneath the
electrode pads.

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Galvanic current
• Galvanic current is also
known as direct current
which can be drawn
directly from dry cell
batteries. Galvanic current
can be used as a constant
and interrupted directed
current.
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Interrupted direct current

• Interrupted direct current is also

known as modified direct current or
interrupted galvanic current.
• Interrupted direct current is
commonly used for stimulation of
denervated muscles and for
electrodiagnostic purpose

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Interrupted direct current

• It is modified type of direct current

characterized by commencement and
cessation of the current flow at
regular intervals. In other words, it is
current whose flow stops and starts
at regular intervals.

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Interrupted direct current

• Impulse duration ranges between

0.01 msec to 3000 msec and the
frequency vary as per the impulse
duration and the interval selected
between them, for instance if the
impulse duration is 100 millisecond
then the frequency is 30 cycles per
second.

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Interrupted direct current
• The pulse used in interrupted direct current can
be called as long duration and shorted duration
pulses.
• Long duration pulses are those whose duration
is more then 10 millisecond and shorted
duration are those whose duration is less than
10 millisecond. Various waveforms of
interrupted direct current such as triangular,
depolarized, trapezoidal and rectangular can be
used in clinical applications.

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Physiological effects

• Physiological effects of interrupted

direct current are stimulation of
sensory nerves, effect of muscle
contraction, increased metabolism,
effect on denervated muscle and
chemical effect.

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 Uses of Interrupted direct
current
• Used in the treatment of denervarted
muscles and for electrodiagnostic tests
such as strength duration curves, pulse
ratio, etc.
• Can be used for healing purpose and
this term named as low intensity direct
current therapy.(LIDC)

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 Direct Current

➢ Is an electric current that flows in one

direction for about 1 seconds or longer.
➢ DC is also referred to as a monophasic,
unidirectional and constant current.
➢ DC can be reversed, Interrupted and
surged
 Direct Current
• Advantages
– Use when electricity not available
– Less danger of electric shock
• Disadvantages
– Heavy weight of cells
– Larger space occupies by cells
– Intensity become weak due to multple use
– costly
Diadynamic current

• Diadynmic currents are also called

as Bernard currents.
• It is unidirectional sinusoidal
current with a frequency of 50 to
100 Hz and pulse duration 10
milliseconds.
• Diadynamic current is used for
pain relief, minimizes
inflammation, facilitation of
healing, increase circulation and 30
motor re-education.
Diadynamic current

• It is commonly used in the treatment

of painful and inflammatory
disorders of muscles, ligaments,
joints and peripheral nerves.
• Diadynamic current is applied for
ten minutes once or twice daily with
perceptible intensity.

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Diadynamic current

• Various modulations of
diadynamic currents are fix
monophase, fix diphase, short
period and long periods etc.

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Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve
Stimulation (TENS)

• It is a form of peripheral
electrical nerve stimulation
through the skin. Today TENS is
one of the most commonly used
electrotherapeutic modality for
the pain relief and it is believed
that the body tissue may get
accommodated to TENS current. 33
 TENS

➢ Is the application of a pulsed rectangular

wave current.
➢ This current is often generated by small
battery operated machines
➢ In which circuits modify the battery’s
output in such a way that it will have
stimulatory effect
TENS
• Many different types of TENS apparatus are
manufactured and so some knowledge of
parameters within which a particular unit operates is
required by therapist
– Pulse shape rectangular
– Pulse width 50-300micro s.
– Frequency 2 Hz – 600Hz (150 commonly used, fixed
or adjustable)
– Intensity 0 to 60ma (adjustable)
• THANKS