Basics of electricity

DANISH ALI KHAN

DANISH ALI KHAN
BPT,MSPT,PPDPT,PGDSM
 Terminology and
definitions, abbreviations and
measurements
► Electrical current (I)—flow of electrons from negative to
positive

Measured in amperes (A)

Ampere—measure of electrical current
1 ampere = movement of 1 C per second

Coulomb (C)—measure of electrical charge = 6.25 × 1018

electrons Measured in amperes (A)
Ampere—measure of electrical current
1 ampere = movement of 1 C per second
► To have current, must have
 Source of electrons
 Conductor—material that allows passage
of electrons
 Driving force of electrons (voltage)
► Voltage (V)—described as the electrical
potential difference or a measure of
electromotive force
To have current, must have
 Source of electrons
 Conductor—material that allows passage of
electrons
 Driving force of electrons (voltage)
► Voltage (V)—described as the electrical potential
difference or a measure of electromotive force
► ge/resistance, or I = V/R.
► Impedance—force that resists the flow of
electrons and is the sum of three
components:
 Resistance
 Inductance
 Capacitance—the ability of a nerve to
store an electrical charge
 Types of electrical current: monophasic and biphasic
waveforms
► Waveform—describes the configuration of the pulses of
the electrical current
 Alternating current (AC)
 Direct current (DC)
► Monophasic current don’t shift polarity
► Biphasic currents—shift polarity continually; each
electrode has identical effects if waveform is symmetrical
► Pulsatile currents—a result of modulation of the
waveform within the unit allowing for interruption
between each pulse
► Parameters of electrical stimulation
 Amplitude (intensity)
► Refers to the intensity or magnitude of the current
► Peak current—is the maximum amplitude of the current at
any point during the pulse regardless of duration
 Phase duration
► Refers to the time from when the individual phase of a
current leaves and when it returns
► Strength–duration curve—relationship of amplitude
(strength) of the electrical current and the duration (phase
duration)
 Frequency
► Is the number of pulses generated per second (pps
or Hertz)
 Low frequency = 1,000 Hertz and below
 Medium frequency = 1,000-100,000 Hertz
 High frequency = greater than 100,000 Hertz
 Rise time or rate of rise of the leading edge of
the pulse
► Refers to the time it takes to get from zero to
maximal amplitude within each pulse
 ► Law of Dubois Reymond—determines whether
there will be a physiological response when the
current is applied
 Stimulus must be of adequate amplitude (intensity)
 Voltage change must be rapid enough
 Phase duration must be long enough
 Duty cycle
► Refers to the pattern of on–off sequencing of
electrical activity
► Electrode considerations
 Types available
► Disposable
► Metal backed or carbon rubber
 Minimizing electrode resistance
► Large electrodes
► Even, firm skin contact
► Clean electrodes and sponges
► Well-moistened sponge interface
► Excess hair and oil removed from the skin
 Active electrode”
► If stimulator has a polarity switch, it is monophasic
and the toggle determines polarity of the “active”
lead
► Biphasic machines have no physiological difference
between electrodes; no need to distinguish leads
 Electrode configurations
 ► Monopolar—two or more unequal-sized electrodes are
used and placed at different locations
 Reasons to use
► Electrodes can be placed farther apart for deeper
penetration
► When a polarity effect is desired
 Bipolar—equal-sized electrodes used, with both
placed over the treatment site
 Quadripolar—used often with interferential
stimulation (IFC)
► Two separate medium-frequency generators used and
electrodes placed to cross currents
► Not same as using two channels of transcutaneous electrical
nerve stimulation (TENS) with four electrodes
 Summary

 Electrical current is the movement of electrons by a

voltage across a resistance.
 Electrical current can be used to depolarize selected
nerve fibers, drive medications into tissues, stimulate
denervated muscle, or promote tissue repair in some
slow-to-heal lesions.
 There are multiple waveforms and parameter
adjustments on electrotherapeutic devices, which
can influence when and how a device is applied.
 The most common form of electrotherapy is TENS.
Through appropriate selection of amplitude, phase
duration, frequency, ramp,TENS can be used for
pain relief or to cause muscle contraction through
stimulation of the alpha motor neuron.