…ELECTROTHERAPY…

Electrotherapy is the treatment of



various diseases and disorders

with the help of electricity or
electrical means.
Electric currents
 The effects and clinical application of electrical currents vary according to the
 waveform,

 intensity,

 duration and

 direction of the current flow and

 according to the types to which the current is applied

 These currents
 depolarize nerves, causing sensory or motor responses that may be
used to
 control pain,
 increase muscle strength ,
 control the formation of edema,
 promote wound healing etc…
Classification of Electrical
Currents
 On the basis of Direction
 On the basis of Frequency

 On the basis of Voltage

 On the basis of Amperage

 On the basis of Biophysical Effects

Types of currents on the basis of
direction
 Direct current
 Alternating current
Types of current according to
frequency
 Low frequency currents
 Medium frequency currents

 High frequency currents

 Cont…

Low Frequency Currents:

o Frequency range 0 to 100 cycles per second
o Use in the stimulation of nerve

e.g.
 Direct current,
 Interrupted direct current IDC,
 Sinusoidal current,
 Diadynamic current,
 High voltage pulsed galvanic current,
 TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
CONT….

Medium frequency Currents:

o Frequency in the range of 1000 to 10,000 cycles per
second
o Use for muscle re-education, retard the rate of muscle
atrophy, drainage of edema and for pain relief
 Russian Current,
 Interferential Current,
Cont…

High frequency currents:

o Frequency more than 10,000 cycles per second
o Produce deep heat inside the tissues

e.g.
 Shortwave diathermy

 Therapeutic Ultrasound

 Microwave diathermy
Contraindications to electric
current
 cardiac pacemaker
 unstable arrhythmias
 over carotid sinus
 Areas where venous or arterial thrombosis or
thrombophlebitis is present
 Pregnancy—over or around the abdomen or low
back
Pacemaker or Unstable
Arrhythmias
 Electrical stimulation may interfere with the
functioning of pacemaker, potentially interfering
with the pacemaker’s heart rate monitoring and
causing a change in the paced heart rate.
 Electrical stimulation may also aggravate an
unstable arrhythmia that is not treated with a
pacemaker.
 If the patient has a pacemaker, electrical
stimulation should not be applied.
Over the Carotid Sinus
 Care should be taken to avoid placement of
electrodes on the anterior or lateral neck in the
areas over the carotid sinuses because stimulation
to these areas may induce a rapid fall in blood
pressure and heart rate that may cause the patient to
faint.
Venous or Arterial Thrombosis
or Thrombophlebitis
 Stimulation should not be placed over areas of
known venous or arterial thrombosis or
thrombophlebitis because stimulation may increase
circulation, increasing the risk of releasing emboli.
During Pregnancy
 Electrodes should not be applied to the low back,
abdomen, or hips, where the path of the current
might cross the uterus.
PRECAUTIONS

Cardiac disease
Patients with impaired mentation or in areas with

impaired sensation
Malignant tumors

Areas of skin irritation or open wounds

Cardiac Disease
 Cardiac disease includes previous myocardial
infarction or other specifically known congenital or
acquired cardiac abnormalities.
Impaired Mentation or Impaired
Sensation
 The patient’s sensation and reporting of pain are
usually used to contain within safe limits the intensity
of current applied.
 If the patient cannot report or feel pain, electrical
stimulation must be applied with caution, and close
attention must be paid to any possible adverse effects.
 In addition, patients with impaired mentation may be
agitated and may try to pull off the stimulation
electrodes.
Malignant Tumors
 Electrical currents can enhance tissue growth, in most
cases it is recommended that electrical stimulation not
be applied to patients with known or suspected
malignant tumor.
 Electrical stimulation should not be applied to any
area of the body of a patient with a malignancy
because malignant tumors can metastasize to areas
beyond where they are first found or known to be.
 Occasionally, electrical stimulation is used to control
pain in patients with known malignancy.
Skin Irritation or Open Wounds
 Electrodes should not be placed over abraded skin
or known open wounds unless electrical
stimulation is being used to treat the wound.
 Open or damaged skin should be avoided because
it has lower impedance and less sensation than
intact skin, and this may result in delivery of too
much current to the area.
ADVERSE EFFECTS OF
ELECTRICAL CURRENTS
 Electrical currents can cause burns.
 This effect is seen most commonly when a DC or
AC (including interferential current) is being
applied. DC and AC are always on, unlike pulsed
currents, resulting in high total charge delivery and
high skin impedance.
 Skin irritation or inflammation may occur in the
area where electrical stimulation electrodes are
applied because the patient is allergic to the contact
surface of the electrode such as the adhesive, gel,
or foam rubber.
…….

…
THE END…