There are several forms of treatment that can be helpful if you have a recovery to make. Certain types of treatments are not that popular but are extremely effective that can increase the speed of recovery by quite a time. Electrical stimulation is an physical therapy that can be used to treat many cases where muscle tear, muscle damage, block pain and blood circulation issues are affected. This process is less known by people, as this has various types that can be useful in different recovery treatments. Let us know about role of electrical stimulation in the physical therapy and its types.
Where is Electrical Stimulation Used?
Electrical stimulation in used in used in providing physical therapy to patients suffering different kinds of muscle related problems. It can be used in these areas-
- Improving muscle mass, recovering from muscle weakness
- Curing muscle dysfunctions
- Reduce pain cause because of spasms and general conditions
- Provides medication for inflammation
- In case of post-surgical pain
- Poor motor controls
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
Types of Electrical Stimulation
Dr. Arvind Mathur, Consultant and Physiatrist from SKD Hospital, Bangalore explained us about different types of electrical stimulation process aid in certain therapies.
1. Transcutaneous Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation
This physical therapy is used to treat pain that are both short and long term. TENS therapy can be provided by a physical therapist that ensures that the right muscles are affected and it reduces your pain. TENS therapy applies electrodes to your body that can aid in reducing painful signals. This electrical stimulation therapy blocks the pain that travels to the brain and makes your feel comfortable.
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2. Iontophoresis
It is also a type of physical therapy that is used to provide electrical impulse to the skin to reduce inflammation. Iontophoresis is used as a medication in treatment of skin problems and inflammation. The physical therapist that gives electrical stimulation therapy, aids to break up calcium that get deposited in the shoulder tendons. Iontophoesis can be taken in the form of medication as well and is quite effective.
3. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
Physical therapy of NMES uses electrical current in order to cause a single muscle or group of muscles to contract. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation is used by placing the electrodes on the skin at various locations. The therapist activates the electrodes that lead to appropriate muscle fibre in the body. This physical therapy improves the muscles that have contracted and makes them healthy again. It can even cause gentle or forceful muscle contraction for recovery process. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation also increases the blood flow in the body and decreases the chances of having muscle spasms. It allows the body to relax properly.
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4. Interferential Current Physical Therapy
It is a less used therapy given by physical therapist. Interferential current therapy is given to some people to relieve their muscle spasms, improve flow of blood in muscle and to provide proper circulation of blood in the body. This therapy is performed by using 4 electrodes in a crisscross pattern. Interferential current allows providing you with maximum comfort. If the current of electrodes interfere with each other, then higher intensity current is used to maximize content. This physical therapy can be very beneficial to cure lower back pain in people.
5. High- Voltage Galvanic Current
HVGS is a high current usage of electrical stimulation in order to penetrate deeper in tissues. This physical therapy is used to relieve pain, improve blood flow, relieve muscle spasm, and improve join mobility by electrical stimulation process. It can be highly beneficial but this therapy also costs quite a lot. Therefore this electrical stimulation therapy is used in very limited numbers.
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