Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Electrotherapy is a process by which electrical energy is used to treat a disease or illness. The use of electricity to treat pain is an age-old method, said to have existed for more than a hundred years.
A TENS (or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulators) unit is an electrotherapy device which applies electrical stimulation to nerves and muscles via adhesive pads placed on the skin. It is powered by a battery.
A TENS unit is used to provide relief from pain. It works through an application of electrical current through the skin by using two or more electrodes. It is supposed to be a safe and non-invasive method of reducing pain.
Whenever you feel pain, an electrical signal is transmitted from the damaged nerve to the brain. In electrotherapy, Electrical stimulation for nerve pain works by sending its own electrical impulses. These impulses seem to interrupt or block the pain signals. Thereby, reducing the pain you feel.
Electrotherapy can be used as often as required anytime of the day.
Yes, electrotherapy is prescribed by doctors and is used for over 30 years by physicians, chiropractors, and physical therapists as a solution for pain relief and other ailments.
Interferential is commonly used for pain relief, to promote tissue healing, relieve muscle spasm and stimulate deeply situated muscles such as the pelvic floor muscles. Interferential therapy is used for the following symptoms: Acute and chronic pain e.g. lower back pain and sciatica.
Interferential therapy (IFT) is a popular electrotherapeutic modality for pain management. It is characterized by the interference of 2 medium-frequency currents (ie, 2–4 kHz), which combine to produce a new medium-frequency current whose amplitude is modulated at low frequency (ie, <1 kHz)
How Does IFC Differ From TENS? TENS delivers low-frequency current across the surface of the skin, while IFC delivers a higher frequency current that penetrates deeper into the tissue with less discomfort
Both TENS and IFT are equally effective in the relief of pain in primary dysmenorrhea. However, tolerance to IFT currents is better among as medium frequency currents
In general, effective treatment durations for IFC therapy were found to vary between 10 and 30 min, depending on the muscle condition and therapist, but there was no standard duration of treatment.
Commonly the treatment lasts 5 to 10 minutes, and it’s typically not performed more than once per day
Ultrasound generates deep heat by the absorption and conversion of ultrasound into thermal energy (rapid vibration of molecules) within the tissue matrix
Ultrasound’s deep heat is thought to have a healing effect on deep tissues and can increase the metabolism of soft tissue cells. In addition, these cells often become more receptive to healing fluids, which are present in the increased blood flow generated by ultrasound.
Beyond this upper limit, the mechanical vibration is known as ultrasound. The frequencies used in therapy are typically between 1.0 and 3.0 MHz (1 MHz = 1 million cycles per second). Sound waves are longitudinal waves consisting of areas of compression and rarefaction
Coupling agents are required when using therapeutic ultrasound (US) to maximize acoustic contact between the transducer and the insonated tissue. US beam power is attenuated to varying extents by different couplants and this may influence treatment efficacy, since therapeutic effects are dose-dependent
How often should a patient be treated? Acute conditions may be treated daily, particularly if they are accompanied by significant pain. More chronic problems respond better when treatments are received 2 to 3 times a week, tapering to once every week or two as improvement is seen.
Laser therapy is a safe and effective solution to relieving pain and healing the body without invasive surgery or potentially harmful medications. Over 4,000 studies demonstrate the positive effects of laser therapy, and it’s earned approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat a range of conditions
Cold Laser alone has shown to help reduce scar tissue, inflammation, adhesions, and pain. It also will create more cell activity to increase the speed of recovery in most cases
Lasers accelerate the body’s natural healing processes by using a wavelength of light to increase blood flow at the wound site. This type of therapy can help reduce pain, accelerate tissue repair, heal wounds, and improve nerve function and vascular activity.
In general, the areas heal in 5 to 21 days, depending on the nature of the condition that was treated and type of laser used. Once the areas have healed, makeup may be worn to camouflage the pink to red colour that is generally seen after laser skin resurfacing
Even when physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, pain pills and shots have failed, most patients still receive dramatic pain relief in 4 to 6 weeks of spinal decompression
Treatment may last 30 to 45 minutes and you may require 20 to 28 treatments over five to seven weeks. Before or after therapy, you may have other types of treatment, such as: Electrical stimulation (electric current that causes certain muscles to contract
studies on spinal decompression indicated between a 71-90% success rate with one study reporting an immediate resolution of symptoms in 86% of the participants involved.
After multiple spinal decompression sessions, your spine may retain the correct position, resulting in long-term relief from the constant pain that once plagued your body
Spinal decompression therapy can help correct a bulging disc or one that has protruded beyond its normal space or slipped out of place completely. Bulging discs are often responsible for chronic lower back pain and persistent neck pain
It may help reduce pain and inflammation in the lower back and prevent surgery from being necessary, especially if the back pain is stress-induced. This is of great benefit for people having chronic back pain that worsens with age
Spinal decompression is an effective treatment for sciatica as it reduces pressure on the lower back and sciatic nerve root system. Using a zero gravity chair for sciatica increases the healing rate by also improving blood flow within your body and rehydrating spinal discs