ELECTROTHERAPY

In rehabilitation and veterinary physiotherapy, electric current is used for two fundamental purposes: for the reduction of pain perception and for the stimulation of excitable tissues (muscles).

The analgesic action is promoted by electricity through membrane hyperpolarization using the gate control principle, and by the hyperemia and the increase of mediators similar to morphine.

ADVANTAGES OF USING ELECTROTHERAPY:

  • RAPID PAIN REDUCTION
  • PROLONGED ANALGESIC EFFECT
  • STIMULATION OF DENERVATED MUSCLES
  • FACILITATED FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY

 

ANTALGIC OR ELECTRO-ANALGESIC ELECTROTHERAPY

TENS is the acronym of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation.  This technique, born at the end of the '70s, has represented a remarkable qualitative leap in the field of antalgic therapy.

Analgesic currents are indicated in the symptomatic treatment of peripheral pain.  They are particularly effective in the management of the pain that accompanies most inflammatory processes and osteoarthritis.

ACUTE PAIN

  • Post-Surgical
  • Acute traumas
  • Inflammatory flares

CHRONIC PAIN

  • Osteoarthritis 
  • Tendinopathy
  • Muscular Pain
 

NEUROMUSCULAR ELECTROSTIMULATION (NMES)

The electric current is able to promote muscular contraction acting on both the motor neuron and the muscle itself.  The choice of a stimulation signal must be formulated according to the functional conditions of the muscle (innervated muscle, denervated or partially denervated muscle) and to the objective to pursue.  Stimulation electrotherapy is aimed at both normally innervated muscles and denervated muscles.

Though not replacing the movement in neuromuscular reactivation, electrotherapy is a useful complement.

In some pathological situations, e.g. peripheral paralysis, electrotherapy is one of the few safeguards that allow interaction with muscle tissue in a way that is different from passive mobilization.

NORMOINNERVATED MUSCLES

  • Increased tone and muscular trophism
  • Muscle strengthening

DENERVATED MUSCLES

  • Acceleration of recovery
  • More joint stability
  • More range of motion