Electrotherapy

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Electrotherapy uses electricity for therapeutic purposes. As part of physiotherapy, it is often used in conjunction with the treatment of illnesses and complaints, for example to relieve pain. Read everything you need to know about the electrotherapy process, where it is used and the risks it entails.

What is electrotherapy?

Electrotherapy (electrostimulation) is one of the physical therapies. It is used, among other things, to loosen the muscles, promote blood circulation, reduce pain and improve healing. To do this, the physiotherapist usually supplies the patient with electricity via glued-on electrodes.

Forms of electrotherapy

A distinction is made between different methods of electrotherapy:

• Direct current therapy (galvanization)
• Low frequency therapy (up to 1000 Hertz)
• Medium frequency therapy (1 to 100 kilohertz)
• High frequency therapy (over 100 kilohertz)

Effects of electrotherapy

The electric current has different effects on the tissue:

• Promote blood circulation
• Stimulation of muscle activity or relaxation of the muscles
• Influencing the conduction of pain
• Warming of the skin and deeper tissue layers
• Stimulation of the metabolism
• Stimulation for paralysis

Direct current therapy (galvanization)

The direct current that acts stimulates the nerves in the vascular wall, releasing the body's own vasodilating substances. The blood flow to the skin can be increased by up to 500 percent and that of the muscles by up to 300 percent. In addition, direct current electrotherapy activates and loosens the muscles, which is referred to in physiotherapy as a tone-regulating effect.

The individual electrodes work very differently: In the area of ​​the anode (positively charged electrode), pain relief is in the foreground, in the area of ​​the cathode (negatively charged electrode), the stimulating effect is in the foreground.

Low frequency therapy

The low-frequency therapy is carried out with so-called impulse currents. Depending on the frequency, the treatment affects the body: In the high-frequency range, there is a pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effect; With lower frequencies - as with direct current therapy - you can stimulate blood circulation in the skin and stimulate the muscles to contract. In addition, the low-frequency electrical stimulation can stimulate the lymph flow and thus the return flow of tissue water (lymph) to the center of the body.

Medium frequency therapy

In medium frequency therapy, the therapist uses alternating currents with different frequencies. Like low-frequency therapy, this treatment also has a pronounced depth effect. In particular, it improves the metabolism of the muscles and increases muscular endurance.

Radiofrequency therapy

The high frequency therapy relaxes tense muscles. The treatment heats the tissue, which speeds up muscle metabolism and allows injuries to heal more quickly.

Hydroelectric baths

The stimulation current therapy can also take place in the form of baths. In this case, water serves as the conducting medium. To do this, the patient sits or lies in special bathtubs in warm water and is flooded with constant direct current. Examples are the Stangerbad (hydroelectric full bath), four-cell bath (for arms and legs) and the hydroelectric partial bath.

Ultrasound therapy

Ultrasound therapy is also one of the electromedical electrical stimulation therapies. With the help of sound waves, heat is generated in order to alleviate pain caused by joint wear, spinal problems or rheumatic diseases, for example. You can read in the text Ultrasound Therapy when to use ultrasound therapy as part of electrotherapy and what you have to consider.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is particularly used for chronic pain. The aim is to inhibit the transmission of pain in the spinal cord. To do this, the electrodes are placed on the skin near the painful areas. You can read in the text TENS when to use transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and what you have to pay attention to.

When is electrotherapy performed?

Patients with the following clinical pictures can benefit from the effects of electrotherapy:

• Pain in the musculoskeletal system (muscles and joints)
• Circulatory disorders of the tissue
• Decrease in muscle mass in acute and chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system, after accidents and in diseases of the peripheral nervous system
• Paralysis
• Chronic inflammatory processes
• Osteoarthritis not activated
• Muscle pain syndromes (myalgic syndromes)
• Incontinence due to weakness in the pelvic floor muscles

Electrotherapy for introducing medication (iontophoresis)

As part of electrotherapy, drugs can also be introduced into the body. The principle of this so-called iontophoresis is based on the migration of electrically charged atoms or molecules (ions) in an electric field. Many active pharmaceutical ingredients are charged and their penetration into the tissue through the skin is accelerated by the flowing current. The drugs are applied to the skin in the form of ointments, gels, emulsions or aqueous solutions before the electrodes are applied.

What do you do with electrotherapy?

First, the physiotherapist explains the effects and possible side effects of electrotherapy to the patient. He then attaches two electrodes directly to the patient's skin:

The current flows through the so-called active electrode, which is attached to the affected part of the body. A second electrode, the reference electrode, completes the circuit. Depending on the type of therapy, the physiotherapist poles and places the electrodes. These are either self-adhesive or are attached to the body with a perforated rubber band or Velcro strips. They are connected to the power cables.

During the treatment, the therapist stays with the patient and asks him about his feelings in order to be able to intervene in good time if problems arise. At the end of the electrotherapy, the current is slowly reduced, the cables are finally removed and the device switched off. After removing the electrodes, the therapist will check whether there have been any changes such as burns on the skin.

What are the risks of electrotherapy?

The following problems can occur during electrotherapy, usually when the current is too high:

• acid burns
• Burns
• Damage to the child in early pregnancy
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Disorder of touch
• Electricity allergy

In which patients should special care be taken?

In principle, electrotherapy should not be carried out near the heart, especially not in patients with a pacemaker. Patients who have metallic implants (osteosynthesis material, endoprostheses) in their body, as well as women with hormone IUDs (intrauterine devices) are risk groups: No low-frequency electrotherapy is allowed in the area of ​​metallic implants; Heat therapy with electricity is also strictly forbidden.

Open wounds, open pressure points and inflamed areas must not be covered with electrodes! Muscle irritation should also not occur near fresh blood clots.

You should not undergo electrotherapy in early pregnancy, as this can lead to malformations or termination of pregnancy.

What do I have to consider after electrotherapy?

After electrotherapy, you should rub the skin on which the electrodes have stuck with an unscented moisturizer. This prevents the stressed skin from drying out.

If you have received electrotherapy to treat pain, you should take a break of at least two weeks after about ten sessions.

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