Physical agents &

Electrotherapy-1
Dr. Waqas Fayyaz PT
DPT, MSPT(Neurology)
Lecturer at University of Lahore
drwaqasfayyaz@gmail.com

Lecture 4
 Today Lecture Learning Objectives

vIndications of faradic current

vContraindications of faradic current
 INDICATIONS of faradic current

1. Facilitation of muscle contraction inhibited by pain

2. Muscle re-education or relearning
3. Training a new muscle action
4. When a nerve is severed
5. Improvement of venous and lymphatic drainage
6. Prevention and loosening of adhesions
7. Replacing Orthosis
8. Inhibition of quadriceps contraction by pain
 INDICATIONS of faradic current

1. Facilitation of muscle contraction inhibited by

pain:
 INDICATIONS of faradic current

1. Facilitation of muscle contraction inhibited by

pain:
• When a patient is unable to produce muscle
contraction or find it difficult to do so, electrical
stimulation may be required in assisting to produce
voluntary contraction.
 INDICATIONS of faradic current

1. Facilitation of muscle contraction inhibited by

pain:

• Stimulation must be stopped when good voluntary

contraction is obtained.
 INDICATIONS of faradic current
2. Muscle re-education or relearning:
 INDICATIONS of faradic current
2. Muscle re-education or relearning:
 INDICATIONS of faradic current

2. Muscle re-education or relearning:

• Muscle contraction is needed to restore the sense

of movement in cases of prolonged disuse or
incorrect use and in muscle transplantation.
 INDICATIONS of faradic current

2. Muscle re-education or relearning:

• The brain appreciates movement not muscle

actions, so the current should be applied to cause
the movement that the patient is unable to
perform voluntarily.
 INDICATIONS of faradic current

3. Training a new muscle

action:
 INDICATIONS of faradic current

3. Training a new muscle action:

• After tendon transplantation, muscle may be

required to perform a different action from that
previously carried out.
 INDICATIONS of faradic current

3. Training a new muscle action:

• With stimulation by faradic current, the patient

must concentrate with the new action and assist
with voluntary contraction.
 INDICATIONS of faradic current
4. When a nerve is
severed:
 INDICATIONS of faradic current

4. When a nerve is severed:

 INDICATIONS of faradic current

4. When a nerve is severed:

• Degeneration of the axons takes place after

several days. So, for a few days after the injury,
the muscle contraction may be obtained with
faradic current.
 INDICATIONS of faradic current

4. When a nerve is severed:

• It should be used to exercise the muscle as long

as a good response is present but must be
replaced by modified direct current as soon as
the response begins to weaken.
 INDICATIONS of faradic current
5. Improvement of venous and lymphatic drainage:
 INDICATIONS of faradic current

5. Improvement of venous and lymphatic

drainage:

• In edema and gravitational ulcers, the venous and

lymphatic return should be encouraged by the
pumping action of the alternate muscle contraction
and relaxation.
 INDICATIONS of faradic current
6. Prevention and loosening of adhesions:
 INDICATIONS of faradic current

6. Prevention and loosening of adhesions:

• After effusion, adhesions are liable to form,

which can be prevented by keeping structures
moving with respect to each other.
• Formed adhesions may be stretched and loosened
by muscle contraction.
 INDICATIONS of faradic current

7.Replacing Orthosis:
 INDICATIONS of faradic current

• Prosthesis can’t be
replaced
INDICATIONS of faradic current

7.Replacing Orthosis:

• Low frequency stimulation may be used to

enhance the function of paralyzed or weak
muscles thus eliminating the need for a splint,
brace or orthosis.
 INDICATIONS of faradic current

8. Inhibition of quadriceps contraction by pain:

 INDICATIONS of faradic current
8. Inhibition of quadriceps contraction by pain:

• As in rheumatoid arthritis, subluxation of patella,

chondromalacia patellae and chronic effusion of
the knee.
 CONTRAINDICATIONS
of faradic current
ØSkin lesions
ØUnstable fracture
ØImpaired cognitive ability
ØPregnancy (1st trimester)
ØOver Carotid sinus*
ØLoss of sensation
ØCancer
Ø Cardiac pacemakers
Ø Superficial metals
 Learning Outcome

qIndications and
contraindications of Faradic
currents
REFERENCE BOOKS

1. Savage B. Practical electrotherapy for physiotherapists.

UK: Faber; 1960.
2. Scott PM. Clayton’s electrotherapy and actinotherapy.
9th ed. USA: Williams & Wilkins: 1980.
3. Watson T. Electrotherapy: evidence-based practice. 12th
ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 2008
4. Cameron MH. Physical agents in rehabilitation: from
research to practice. 4th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2013.
5. Singh J. Textbook of electrotherapy. 2nd ed. India:
Jaypee; 2012