Electrical therapy, also known as electrotherapy, is the use of electrical energy to treat a variety of medical conditions. It is a non-invasive, painless treatment option that has been used for over a century to relieve pain, improve muscle strength, and promote healing. One of the most common forms of electrical therapy is Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS). TENS uses a small device that sends electrical impulses through the skin to stimulate the nerves and reduce pain. This type of therapy is often used to treat chronic pain conditions such as lower back pain, arthritis, and neuropathic pain.
Another form of electrical therapy is Interferential Current (IFC) therapy, which uses high-frequency electrical impulses to stimulate the deeper layers of muscle tissue. This therapy can be used to alleviate pain, improve muscle strength, and promote healing. Electrical therapy is also used to treat conditions such as incontinence, muscle spasms, and joint stiffness. In addition, electrical therapy can be used to improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and promote healing in patients with wounds or injuries.
Electrotherapy is considered to be a safe and effective treatment option for a wide range of medical conditions. It is non-invasive, painless, and has few side effects. Furthermore, it can be used in conjunction with other treatment options, such as medication and physical therapy, to enhance their effectiveness.
Overall, electrical therapy is a versatile and effective treatment option for a wide range of medical conditions. It is non-invasive, painless, and has few side effects, making it an excellent choice for patients who are looking for a safe and effective way to manage their pain and improve their overall health and well-being.
It’s important to note that electrotherapy is a medical treatment and should only be administered by a licensed healthcare professional. Patients should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any form of electrical therapy to ensure that it is safe and appropriate for them. Electro therapy is the use of electric stimuli to treat ailments. It has been in use for over 100 years in pain treatment. Scientific studies have proven that therapy can be used to treat both acute and chronic pain.
Electro or electric therapy may work in any of the ways. It can either block pain transmission along the nerves or it can encourage release of endorphins which are painkilling hormones produced by our body.
Electrotherapeutic devices come in different types such as:
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)
Self-adhesive pads are placed on skin at or around the affected area. The device generates small electric pulses which stimulate nerves. The duration of each pulse is only a few millionths of a second. High frequencies stop pain signals from reaching the brain while low frequencies stimulate the body to release natural painkillers. Pain relief lasts for hours.
EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation)
Electrodes are placed on the area where motor points of a muscle group lie. A Motor Point is the spot where a motor nerve enters the muscle. The electric current generated from the EMS device, stimulates the muscle to expand and contract. This strengthens muscle fiber and increases blood circulation to the muscles.
Interferential
Electrode pads of two varying frequencies are used. The two currents interfere with each other to create deep penetrating impulses. It is believed that it is more effective than TENS as it faces less resistance to penetrate skin. The impulses interfere with the pain signals at spinal cord and help body in recovering.
Galvanic (also known as HVGPS or High Voltage Pulsed Galvanic Stimulation)
It increases blood flow to the affected area with the help of low-level current. An increased blood circulation speeds healing of wounds and cleaning of toxins. The technology is used in shaping, fat reduction, wrinkles, fine lines and acne scars.
Microcurrent (MC)
This is the most important advancement in the field of electric therapy. A very low current, in millionths of an ampere is generated. It is said to be more effective than other electric therapy methods. Our body has electricity flowing through it.
Wounds and aging process reduce the electricity storing capacity of cells. Microcurrent recharges the cells and allows them to function normally again. This therapy is used in healing sports injuries, chronic and acute pain, fibromyalgia, frozen shoulder and ligament and tendon repair. Specific frequency can be adjusted for treating internal organs. This therapy is also used in anti-aging treatments.
How TENS Work
The TENS are then set to whichever setting is the most comfortable for you, and they proceed to send electric pulse waves to your nerve fibers. They are completely controlled by you. They are used to help jump start your body’s endorphins and encephalin, to help ease the pain.
TENS have also been used on stroke patients, and have been known to help give stroke survivors feeling in their limbs again. What the doctors use are called NESS L300, and they attach to the patients brace (wherever that may be), and they detect whether the patient has their limb in the air, or on the ground. They then send an electrical current to the patient’s personal nerve that helps activate their muscles and corrects their gaits.
Lovely Benefits
They’re mainly used to help ease the pain, and strengthen your muscles by reducing any muscle spasms you acquire. Electric therapy also helps with your circulation, and it adds to the range of your muscles. For stroke patients, they’ve been known to improve their walking abilities and control, increase the blood flow circulation, and their walking speed. TENS have been used for stroke patients, people with stiffened joints and pulled muscles, sufferers of multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injured patients, and those with cerebral palsy.
Considerations Before Use
It is recommended that you do not use these products on your own, for there can be complications. Do not use if you are in your first trimester, have a peacemaker, have malignancy, or have any forms of impaired circulation. DO NOT use TENS on your head, your jaw, or near any metal implants. We recommend not using them if you are currently using a sleep apnea or heart monitors. Please, also keep in mind that TENS are used only to help subdue the pain; they cannot and have not been proven to cure the pain completely.
Low Back Pain Physical Therapy – Solutions For Aches and Pains
Physical therapy is a very useful tool for many different situations. With so many millions of people experiencing low back pain every single year, it’s often nice to know that there are more effective solutions than medical procedures, harsh medications, and just waiting it out. While many people assume that injury to their back requires rest and keeping still, this is actually detrimental in many cases. Low back pain physical therapy is a much better alternative and can help speed the healing process along if done properly. Of course, you should be able to rest the area to give it time to heal, but you can’t lie around and do nothing for any extended period of time or the muscles will get stiff and create more problems for you. Consider low back pain physical therapy if you want an effective solution that doesn’t involve serious treatments or procedures.
Physical therapy routines can be prescribed by a doctor, physical therapist, or even a chiropractor. While many people will discount the credibility of chiropractors as a source of medical advice, they are trained in the physiology of the body and know what they are talking about. They can offer treatment plans for your low back pain that include physical therapy along with other procedures such as electrical therapy, heat/ice therapy, and massage. Make sure that you discuss all of your symptoms with whatever doctor you visit to ensure that you get the best treatment program for your needs without putting yourself in more danger than it’s worth. The great thing about getting professional therapy for back pain is that you can often experience better results than if you tried to do things yourself.
There are many different types of low back pain physical therapy that people can take on, depending on their exact injuries and what they’re capable of doing. For example, if an older person with limited mobility has lower back pain, they can still find many effective exercises that will help to alleviate or even completely eliminate their back pain if they work with a physical therapist or their family doctor. All that you need to do is to take the time to make sure that you get the right medical treatment and that you fully disclose everything to the doctor or therapist so that you don’t put yourself in more danger than it is worth when it comes to working out back problems with physical therapy.
Low back pain physical therapy isn’t for everyone. However, it can be an effective solution for many people who are looking for something simple and less invasive or serious than medical procedures and prescription medication. Usually, if you are prescribed some type of therapy routine, it will involve stretching and strength training exercises combined, which will help to loosen the sore muscles in the lower back and make the other muscles around them stronger so that the back isn’t under as much stress and is able to function better in the future. Of course, everyone is different and so is every treatment that is prescribed, so you will just have to talk to your doctor to see what they think is best for your needs.
If you are looking for a permanent solution to pain relief, you should talk to your doctor about low back pain physical therapy treatments. In many cases, the exercises that you do in physical therapy will help to make the body healthier and stronger so that you can avoid future injuries and pain in the back because your body is not strong enough or healthy enough to handle the stress that is put on your back. However, if you have a chronic condition, physical therapy might just offer a simple pain management program that allows you to make the pain less severe and more sporadic than it might have been without the therapy. No matter how you use it or what you get out of physical therapy for low back pain, it can be an effective solution for just about anyone that is suffering from low back pain. If you want a natural treatment that is effective, you need to learn about physical therapy for back pain.