Electrotherapy for pain management
Electrotherapy is a treatment method that can help reduce acute and chronic pain. The purpose of electrotherapy treatment is to reduce pain and swelling in body areas that are affected. It is now increasingly used in pain management. It is widely used by physical therapists, doctors, chiropractors, massage therapists, trainers, athletes, and acupuncturists etc. There are a number of products that use electrical stimulation depending on the intensity of the electrical charge such as microcurrent stimulators, TENS units, muscle stimulators, conductive garments, trigger point stimulators, non-prescription TENS, TENS accessories, interferential stimulators, ultrasound, infrared, and iontophoresis, etc. The two common modalities of electrotherapy that are used to treat a variety of diseases: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and the iontophoresis. TENS uses small electrodes that can be fastened to the skin. Iontophoresis is the transdermal electrotherapy modality that uses a drug-carrying electrode to deliver direct current to the affected area.
Electrotherapy is known to treat pain due to post-operative incisions, fractures, arthritic inflammation or tendinitis, muscle loss or weakness and depression. Electrotherapy is usually used in the early stages of pain management treatment. It may be combined with heat therapy, cold therapy, and manipulations or exercise to optimize the treatment benefit. It is a treatment based on electrical stimulation. it involves stimulating nerve fibers with small electrical currents. Electric current is applied on muscles or body tissue for the purpose of stimulating the damaged areas. The current applied can be alternating current or direct current. In most cases, alternating current is applied because it is much more effective. It minimizes discomfort by blocking transmission of pain signals without the need for any surgery or drug intake. It also activates the body to produce endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers.
Electrotherapy is safe and comfortable. It is a painless therapy. It is completely drug-free and has no known side effects. Electrotherapy is not recommended, however, for patients with pacemakers or pregnant women.
