Electrotherapy consists of transmitting micro electrical impulses to the human body for therapeutic purposes. By modulating the pulse parameters – frequency, width and intensity – various therapeutic benefits can be achieved: muscle recovery, pain reduction, treatment of incontinence, treatment of denervated muscle and fluid drainage.
Electrotherapy works with the same mechanism as the nervous system: the device controls the activation of voluntary muscles via electrical signals. Thanks to electrical muscle stimulation and different types of frequency, it is possible to customise the intensity and power of the current to treat specific muscle groups. Electrotherapy, through electrical impulses, replaces the voluntary action of the nervous system and thus increases the training, anti-inflammatory or rehabilitation effect on the stimulated muscles.
The benefits of electrotherapy are manifold and related to both the type of program used and the type of current emitted by the device. At the antalgic level, it is possible to achieve a reduction in pathological muscle contractures and pain, using specific programs for muscle relaxation and reducing the perception of pain. Other benefits include increasing muscle tone, strength and endurance, as well as increasing peripheral vascularisation. It is also possible to help the biological tissues to assimilate the active ingredients of the drug more quickly and in a targeted manner, and to reduce hyperhidrosis.
The electrotherapy session requires special attention to the positioning of the electrodes, which changes according to the program. For an antalgic treatment, the electrodes are attached to the skin, forming a square with the area of pain in the centre. To strengthen a muscle, the electrodes are placed at the ends of the muscle belly. For an iontophoresis treatment, rubber sponges and electrodes are used. The intensity of the current should be increased without ever exceeding the pain threshold. With TENS programs, the sensation to be felt is of a tingling sensation, while for EMS programs it is of a firm muscle contraction.
Before starting the treatment and placing the electrodes, it is important to cleanse the area to be treated. In the case of excessive hair, it is recommended to shave the area of the body to allow the electrode to adhere perfectly.
The duration of an electrotherapy session varies depending on the program, the area and the pathology to be treated. For muscle stimulation programs, a session lasts about 20 minutes per muscle group. To treat localised pain, the time varies from 30 to 40 minutes depending on the pathology and pulse intensity.
Electrotherapy is multifunctional and, depending on the current delivered by the device, can treat various pathologies and problems, including: lumbago and sciatica, cervicalgia and myotensive headache, sprains and contusions, general pain, epicondylitis, epitrocleitis, periarthritis, hyperhidrosis, haematomas, oedema, muscle trophism and atrophy, denervated muscle, ncontinence, muscle heaviness, fluid accumulation.
Both techniques are forms of instrumental physical therapy. TENS uses small electrical impulses for an analgesic effect targeted at the pain symptom, while PEMF harnesses the benefits of magnetic or electromagnetic fields by acting directly on the cause of pain.
TENS programs are mainly indicated for pain reduction. For muscle strengthening, EMS/NEMS (muscle stimulation) programs are recommended.
No. Before each electrostimulation session, it is recommended to cleanse and dry the skin thoroughly for better adherence of the pre-cellular electrodes. Only iontophoresis involves the use of a drug in liquid form.
Contraindications of electrotherapy are common to many instrumental therapies and include use during pregnancy, in the presence of acute inflammatory diseases, or in the case of neoplasms. It is not recommended for use on cancerous lesions, infected or swollen areas, in the presence of skin rashes, open wounds, dermatitis, and for pacemaker wearers, heart patients, persons with severe arrhythmias, epileptic patients, pregnant women, anxious persons, or those with serious illnesses such as tuberculosis, juvenile diabetes, acute viral diseases, mycoses, inguinal or abdominal hernias, and wearers of magnetisable prostheses.
