Electrotherapy Uses in 2022 – Boost Physiotherapy
Electrotherapy is the utilization of electrical energy as a clinical treatment. In the medical field, electrotherapy can apply to an assortment of medicines, including electrical devices or stimulators. The phrase has an odd stigma due to the misuse of practices associated with electric shock therapy.
Fortunately, the modern era has advanced the field of electric therapy to be vastly beneficial. Down below will discuss its use in physiotherapy, what it treats, its various types, and the benefits tied to it. After reading, if you have any more questions tied to the matter, feel free to reach out to us here at Boost Physiotherapy.
What is Electrotherapy in Physiotherapy?
Physical therapists can use electric therapy in a wide range of services. Examples include interferential therapy, therapeutic ultrasounds, EMS therapy, PENS therapy, and TENS therapy.
Physical therapists will use it to help treat carpal tunnel syndrome, physical pain, rheumatoid arthritis, shin splints, tennis elbow, postherpetic neuralgia, and much more. The process itself operates differently depending on the physical therapist, client, and treatment.
Some uses of electrotherapy include
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Disc Pain
- Hip Pain
- Ankle Pain
- Joint Pain
- Shoulder Pain
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)
- Shin Splints
- Postherpetic Neuralgia
- Tennis Elbow
- Facial Paralysis
- Labour Pain
- Knee Pain
- Wrist pain
- Post Herpetic Neuralgia
- Tennis Elbow
Types Of Electrotherapy
Like any other area in the medical field, there are many varying types of electric therapy. Examples include Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, Electroacupuncture, Therapeutic Ultrasounds, Interferential Therapy, and Interferential Therapy. Below will examine how each of these examples operates:
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, also known as TENS, utilizes an electric flow delivered by a device to animate the nerves for therapeutic purposes. It’s similar to a massage gun, with most sessions lasting around 30 minutes.
Electroacupuncture
Electroacupuncture is a type of needle therapy where electric flow is passed between sets of therapy needles. It combines acupuncture with electric therapy, allowing patients the opportunity to get the best of both worlds. A typical session lasts between 10 to 20 minutes.
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Therapeutic ultrasound gives profound warming to delicate tissue areas to expand blood flow to those areas. In a broader sense, it can refer to any type of procedure that uses ultrasound for therapeutic benefit. The average session is 5 to 10 minutes but can be longer or shorter depending on the patient.
Interferential Therapy
Interferential treatment is the use of a low recurrence electrical flow to animate nerve movement. It’s intended to help people with pain and increment the bloodstream to the injured area of their body.
It tends to begin with cup electrodes that are applied to the area needing it. People feel a shivering sensation impact around their muscles while the electrical sign animates the nerve. The session lasts somewhere between nine to fifteen minutes.
Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS)
Electrical muscle stimulation is the extraction of muscle constriction using electric impulses. EMS therapy is most commonly used to improve muscle strength, especially for patients after a severe injury. The average EMS session is 20 to 30 minutes.
Does Electric Therapy Work in Physiotherapy?
Electric therapy is an effective method to significantly reduce pain, improve muscle use, and promote positive blood flow. It has a significant purpose in physiotherapy, offering patients a wide range of services to select from in the field. Still, some stigma in the area can largely be mitigated thanks to its proven benefits.
Benefits Of Electrotherapy In Physiotherapy
The main reason electric therapy continues to grow in popularity is the sheer number of benefits attached to the matter. Though the treatments vary considerably with their use and application, virtually every therapy type has no side effects. Some of the broader key benefits are listed below:
Reduces Body Pain
Electrical impulses from electric therapy help reduce body pain by mitigating pain messages sent from nerves to the brain. It blocks the action of the pain receptors, in return allowing users more comfort while they get over their injury. Body pain can be detrimental, and having less of it can make the body heal quicker.
Alleviates Nerve Pain
The suppression of pain signals can also greatly benefit someone’s nerve pain. Nerve pain is one of the most uncomfortable ailments for a person to deal with. Suppressing the pain is always beneficial, especially when done safely and effectively.
Accelerates Healing of Musculoskeletal Injuries
A musculoskeletal injury refers to an injury or disorder of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs. Electric therapy helps block out pain signals by sending out electrical impulses. In return, it stimulates muscle tissue, accelerating the healing of musculoskeletal injuries.
Increases Blood Circulation in the Body
Impaired blood flow, clogged arteries, and blood circulation issues can be detrimental to longevity. Electric therapy use of electrical signals throughout the body helps stimulate blood flow, causing users to see increased blood circulation in the body.
Heals Wounds
Pain is the most common ailment described with physical injury. Wounds of any kind can easily see a massive benefit from electric therapy. It promotes and accelerates healing, allowing the body to get back to a sense of normalcy much quicker.
Relaxes Muscle Spasms
Muscle spasms can occur without being linked to an underlying disease or injury such as fatigue, overexertion, under-exertion, low magnesium, or low potassium. Electric therapy can help the body’s natural healing method by supporting the production of pain-killing endorphins.
Want to Know More About Electrotherapy and its Use For Physiotherapy?
If you’re interested in learning more about electrotherapy, feel free to contact us at Boost Physiotherapy. Regardless of what your inquiry might be, we’ll be more than happy to accommodate you and answer any questions you might have.
We ensure a hands-on approach and one on one time with your therapist every time you come in. We take the time to know you, your condition, and the abundance of factors that affect your pain. Make your appointment today and begin your journey to bettering your physical health!
BY: boostptepadmin
Physio
COMMENTS: No Comments