Electrotherapy includes a range of treatments using electricity to reduce pain, improve circulation, repair tissues, strengthen muscles, leading to improvements in physical functioning. It is the use of electrical energy as a medical treatment.
These units usually consist of a battery-powered device connected by wires to electrode pads that are placed on the skin. once the electrode is attached and the unit is turned on, a mild electrical current is sent to the skin via the electrode.
Electrotherapy Modalities in Physiotherapy:
Many Electrotherapy modalities are used in physiotherapy-
- Ultrasound
- Interferential therapy (IFT)
- Electrical Muscle Stimulator
- TENS (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
- UVR (ultraviolet radiation) therapy
- IRR (infrared radiation) therapy
- Russian current
- LASER (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) etc.
Uses of Electrotherapy:
- Pain management(acute and chronic)
- Improvement of strength
- Improvement of motor control
- Retards muscle atrophy
- Improvement of local blood flow
- Tissue repair
- Reduce acute and chronic edema
- Iontophoresis (delivery of pharmacological agent or drugs)
- Lymphatic drainage
- Relaxation of muscle spasm
Contraindications of Electrotherapy:
- Metal in the tissue
- Pregnancy
- Disturbed skin sensation
- Patient with cardiac pacemaker
- Tumors (malignancy)
- Skin infection
- Over areas of thrombosis or other vascular abnormalities
- Open wound