Electrotherapy is a therapeutic method that utilizes electrical energy of different frequencies and intensities in order to positively influence local tenderness of the affected site, improve circulation, stimulate or, conversely, relax muscles and the surrounding soft tissue, and it has anti-inflammatory effect. Specific type of electrotherapy depends on doctor’s prescription.
TENS – Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
Galvanizing
Ionophoresis
Diadynamic currents
Träbert currents
Mid-frequency currents
2-pole interference
4-pole interference
Isoplanar interference
TENS – Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is a form of low-frequency electrotherapy focused on pain control. Pain perception can be mitigated through stimulation of nerves on different levels of the nervous system. This method affects pain and relieves muscle spasms, stiffness and cramps. It is also used as electrogymnastics in muscle atrophy and as stimulation of denervated muscles in central palsy.
Galvanization is a therapeutic method using direct current with constant intensity. It is used to reduce pain, swelling and blood circulation. In tissues, it increases local metabolism in skin, subcutaneous tissue and blood circulation in the area, it mobilizes swellings, sprains and inflammatory exudates, it accelerates their absorption and subsequently flushes away waste products of metabolism. The application of galvanic current reduces muscle tension and helps control the pain.
Iontophoresis – uses the summation of effects from electrical current and the drug inserted to the affected area. For example, the drug for pain control with anti-inflammatory activity (Voltaren) but also others, in various diseases.
Träbert’s currents have significant analgesic (pain relieving) and hyperaemic (promoting blood circulation) effect that may appear immediately after application.
Dia-dynamic currents are formed by combining galvanic, harmoniously shaped impulse current. Their effect is blood circulation, toning and pain relief. They have beneficial effect on blood circulation in the affected area, and relax muscles. They are most commonly applied in the acute stage.
Mid-frequency currents positively affect the electrophysiological functions of the body, and easily penetrate deep into the body tissues. They cause the release of endorphins into the central nervous system, which have analgesic effect and cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) with significant controlling effect on trophism, growth and function of tissues. Their effect is analgesic (painkilling), irritant, hypereremic (promoting blood circulation), resorptive (absorbing), toning and trophotropic (nourishing).
2-pole interference occurs after summation of mid-frequency currents with different levels of frequency. Thus, the tissue is treated with current of differential frequency which has particularly stimulating effect on muscles and also promotes blood circulation, tones and works against pain.
4-pole interference – uses 4 poles, i.e. electrodes. It is used as with the 2-pole interference, but mainly to affect larger areas and joints.
Isoplanar interference – uses 4 electrodes. This method is the least intrusive and can be applied very soon after the accident.
Combination therapy – combines the action of electrotherapy and ultrasound, where the head also acts as an electrode.
Ultrasound therapy exploits the mechanical properties of sound waves with high frequency to reduce muscle spasms, to remove trigger points in muscles, to relax and warm up the muscles before training, to remove pain and inflammation, and to promote healing generally.
The advantage of ultrasound therapy is no pain and treatment of larger areas. Our medical center has therapeutic ultrasound BTL-4000.
Mechanical waves are absorbed by the tissue and transformed into heat energy which leads to micro-massage based on vibration of all atoms and molecules, even the whole cells, and thus locally increases temperature of deep tissues.
Laser therapy is non-invasive therapeutic method based on the application of low-energy monochromatic, coherent radiation in the form of a laser beam. The laser beam is absorbed in the tissues and its energy is transferred to the tissue cells for restoration of their normal function.
These are electromagnetic waves from the visible light area. Harmonic vibration is capable of transferring large amounts of energy, and leads to increased cell membrane permeability and improves their nutrition.
Low energy laser therapy is designed to provide the treatment of painful musculoskeletal disorders and the treatment of traumatic and inflammatory conditions of the skin, mucous membranes, and soft tissues. The effect is particularly biostimulative, regenerative, anti-inflammatory, and painkilling based on the evoked photomechanical reactions.
It has a very wide range of applications.
