Interferential current (IFC) is a type of electrical stimulation therapy that is used to reduce pain and improve muscle function. It is a low-frequency form of electrical stimulation that uses two different electrical currents, which are applied to the patient’s skin through electrodes. These two currents create an interference pattern that penetrates deeper into the tissue, providing a more effective form of electrical stimulation.
Indications
IFC therapy is used to treat a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, muscle spasms, and injuries to the muscles and tendons. It is commonly used to treat patients with conditions such as back pain, knee pain, and rotator cuff injuries. It can also be used to improve muscle function in patients who have had a stroke, spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injury.
Administration
IFC therapy is typically administered by a physical therapist in a clinical setting. The therapist will place electrodes on the patient’s skin, near the area of pain or muscle spasms. The electrodes are connected to a machine that generates the electrical impulses. The intensity, frequency, and duration of the electrical impulses will be adjusted to suit the patient’s condition and needs.
The therapy is usually administered several times a week for a period of several weeks or months. The therapist will also provide the patient with exercises and techniques to practice between therapy sessions, to help reinforce the muscle strengthening and coordination work that is done during therapy.
Benefits
IFC therapy has been found to be an effective treatment for a wide range of conditions. It can help to reduce pain, improve muscle strength and coordination, and promote healing. It can also help to improve the function of muscles affected by conditions such as spinal stenosis, and can help patients recover from surgery, such as joint replacements.
One of the most important benefits of IFC therapy is that it can provide a deeper form of electrical stimulation, which can penetrate deeper into the tissue. This can provide a more effective form of electrical stimulation, which can lead to better outcomes.
Risks
IFC therapy is considered to be a safe and non-invasive treatment option, but it does carry certain risks. The most common side effect of the therapy is skin irritation at the site of the electrodes. However, this is usually mild and temporary. Other potential side effects include muscle cramping, pain, and burns, but these are also rare.
It is not recommended for certain groups of people, such as pregnant women, people with a history of heart disease, or people who have a pacemaker. IFC therapy should not be applied over the eyes, on the head, or over cancerous tumors.
It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for use and consult with a healthcare professional before starting IFC therapy. It is also important to monitor the skin for any signs of irritation or burns, and to discontinue use if any adverse reactions occur.
Interferential therapy basically involved putting 4 electrodes on the outer edges of where a patient was feeling pain. The interferential current therapy consisted of one “channel -2 electrodes” going off and on 4,000 times per second ( referred to as PPS/Frequency/Rate/Pulses per Second). The other channel went off and on 4,001 to 4,150 PPS. The interferential therapy treatment was the crossing of the currents inside the patient which stopped the pain and also provided carryover pain relief following the treatment that lasted for some time period. In physical therapy journals there were interferential articles describing how the treatment worked and why interferential was most beneficial for chronic pain patients who were unable to find pain relief.
Often the chronic pain patient was referred to a Physical Therapist ( Physiotherapist ) by a physician for an “Evaluate and Treat” referral. The physicians were unaware of what the physical therapists were doing but they found that in many situations the physical therapist was able to provide pain relief when other methods had failed. The physical therapist often used a combination of hot cold interferential which was nothing more than applying warm moist heat in conjunction with interferential for immediate relief and to extend the carryover pain relief period. If the patient presented with an acute injury, less than 48 hours, then the physical therapist used cold interferential therapy employing ice to lessen the inflammation of recently injured tissues.
The reason for the warm moist heat, in conjunction with interferential treatments, was the heat attracted blood, a conductor of electricity, and enhanced the ability of the interferential current to penetrate into the body tissues and target the sensory nerves. When there is more heat in an area the body rushes blood to dissipate the heat. This creates a more electrical conductive environment internally and externally the moisture from the heating pad reduces the resistance of the skin for greater penetration. The physical therapist was using the natural phenomena to aid in overcoming the resistance of the skin.
In theory the crossing of the two currents from the two independent channels would produce a “new” current that was the sum of the two crossing currents. That was theory which later had to be modified since the body and the differing tissues had different abilities to store electrons before “filling up” and there was not a consistency of current distribution. However the science was correct even though the imagery was not. This “new current” was called a “vector current” and it moved around the painful areas. What was later revealed was the stimulation did indeed occur for the sensory nerves due to the crossing of the currents. The sensation was very relaxing and the effects of interferential currents were successful for pain relief.
Interferential therapy later moved to other medical disciplines and become an effective treatment for:
1. Urinary and Fecal Incontinency
2. Osteoarthritis
3. Muscle Reeducation
4. Acute Edema
5. Muscle spasm and spasticity
6. Circulatory stimulation
7. Abdominal Organ stimulation
8. Acceleration of general healing.
Over the years study after interferential study has confirmed what Brenda Savage and Giovanni De Domenico pointed out decades earlier. Interferential therapy currents could produce outstanding clinical results for patients when other treatments had failed.
Interferential therapy contraindications are few,
• Don’t apply electrodes near heart if patient has a demand cardiac pacemaker
• Don’t apply electrodes over neck
• Don’t use interferential therapy on pregnant women,
Unlike tens units, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulators, prior to January 2009 interferential units were not portable so any contraindication of sleepiness due to muscle relaxation was not hazardous since the patient had to be in a clinic or hospital to receive an interferential treatment. It was not unusual for a patient to fall asleep during an interferential treatment and have to be awakened upon completion by the clinician.
Today with the advent of at home, self-treat, with a portable device the additional warning is to not operate an automobile or operate machinery when undergoing interferential treatment. Today, besides the physical therapy interferential office, the chiropractic clinic often uses interferential therapy as a complementary therapy to spinal manipulation and the Doctor of Chiropractic has become well versed in using interferential for pain relief.
The biggest problem with interferential therapy historically has been one had to get an appointment and go to a clinic for treatment. Today that is not the case and the ability to self treat has turned the tide on preventing pain, rather than treating pain. Probably the principal advantage to the patient is today with self-treatment interferential options, the residual or carryover pain relief seems to be extending from self-treatment to self-treatment and new parameters of health care are emerging due to the new portable modality.
Conditions that respond to TENS & Interferential include the following:
• Rheumatoid Arthritis,
• Osteoarthritis,
• Post Amputation Pain/Phantom Limb Pain
• Back Pain,
• Lumbago,
• Sciatica,
• Whiplash,
• Sports Injuries,
• Neuralgia,
• Skeletal Pains,
• Muscle Aches,
• Cancer Pain,
• Menstrual Pain,
• Labour Pain,
• Tension – Migraine
• Travel Sickness
• Insurance Reimbursable
Tens has been recognized as efficacious and the rent and purchase paid by almost all major insurance companies for decades, including Medicare (HCFA), when used for chronic pain. Medicare will pay for an interferential treatment in a health facility but does not pay for the rental/purchase of an interferential unit. Many patients have not had the money to pay out of pocket for an interferential unit even though the benefits are obtained in the clinical setting. In certain instances a patient may have coverage for “DME”, durable medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, potty seats, canes, crutches, and walkers. If the patient has DME coverage then in almost all situations Interferential may be covered.
Conclusion
Interferential current therapy is a type of electrical stimulation therapy that is used to reduce pain and improve muscle function. It uses two different electrical currents, which create an interference pattern that penetrates deeper into the tissue, providing a more effective form of electrical stimulation. It is commonly used to treat patients with conditions such as back pain, knee pain, and rotator cuff injuries. It is a safe and non-invasive treatment option that can be administered by a physical therapist in a clinical setting. However, as with any medical treatment, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional and monitor for potential risks.