Principles of Electrical Currents. Electricity is an element of PT modalities most frightening and...

Principles of Electrical Currents

Electricity is an element of PT modalities most frightening and

least understood.

• Understanding the basis principles will later aid you in establishing treatment protocols.

General Therapeutic Uses of Electricity

• Controlling acute and chronic pain

• Edema reduction

• Muscle spasm reduction

• Reducing joint contractures

• Minimizing disuse/ atrophy

• Facilitating tissue healing

• Strengthening muscle

• Facilitating fracture healing

Contraindications of Electrotherapy

• Cardiac disability• Pacemakers• Pregnancy• Menstruation (over abdomen, lumbar or pelvic region)• Cancerous lesions• Site of infection• Exposed metal implants• Nerve Sensitivity

Terms of electricity

• Electrical current: the flow of energy between two points– Needs

• A driving force (voltage)• some material which will conduct the electricity

• Amper: unit of measurement, the amount of current (amp)

• Conductors: Materials and tissues which allow free flow of energy

Fundamentals of Electricity

• Electricity is the force created by an imbalance in the number of electrons at two points– Negative pole an area of high electron

concentration (Cathode)– Positive pole and area of low electron

concentration (Anode)

Charge

• An imbalance in energy. The charge of a solution has significance when attempting to “drive” medicinal drugs topically via inotophoresis and in attempting to artificially fires a denervated muscle

Charge: Factors to understand

• Coulomb’s Law: Like charges repel, unlike charges attract– Like charges repel

• allow the drug to be “driven”

• Reduce edema/blood

Charge: Factors

• Membranes rest at a “resting potential” which is an electrical balance of charges. This balance must be disrupted to achieve muscle firing– Muscle depolarization is difficult to achieve

with physical therapy modalities– Nerve depolarization occurs very easily with

PT modalities


• Insulators: materials and tissues which deter the passage of energy

• Semiconductors: both insulators and conductors. These materials will conduct better in one direction than the other

• Rate: How fast the energy travels. This depends on two factors: the voltage (the driving force) and the resistance.


• Voltage: electromotive force or potential difference between the two poles

• Voltage: an electromotive force, a driving force. Two modality classification are:– Hi Volt: greater than 100-150 V– Lo Volt: less than 100-150 V


• Resistance: the opposition to flow of current. Factors affecting resistance:– Material composition– Length (greater length yields greater resistance)– Temperature (increased temperature, increase

resistance)

Clinical application of Electricity: minimizing the

resistance• Reduce the skin-electrode resistance

– Minimize air-electrode interface– Keep electrode clean of oils, etc.– Clean the skill on oils, etc.

• Use the shortest pathway for energy flow• Use the largest electrode that will selectively

stimulate the target tissues• If resistance increases, more voltage will be needed

to get the same current flow

Clinical application of Electricity: Temperature

• Relationship– An increase in temperature increases resistance

to current flow

• Applicability– Preheating the tx area may increase the comfort

of the tx but also increases resistance and need for higher output intensities

Clinical Application of Electricity: Length of Circuit

• Relationship:– Greater the cross-sectional area of a path the

less resistance to current flow

• Application:– Nerves having a larger diameter are depolarized

before nerves having smaller diameters

Clinical Application of Electricity: Material of Circuit

• Not all of the body’s tissues conduct electrical current the same

• Excitable Tissues– Nerves

– Muscle fibers

– blood cells

– cell membranes

• Non-excitable tissues– Bone

– Cartilage

– Tendons

– Ligaments

• Current prefers to travel along excitable tissues

Stimulation Parameter:

• Amplitude: the intensity of the current, the magnitude of the charge. The amplitude is associated with the depth of penetration.– The deeper the penetration the more muscle

fiber recruitment possible – remember the all or none response and the

Arndt-Schultz Principle

Simulation Parameter• Pulse duration: the length of time the

electrical flow is “on” also known as the pulse width. It is the time of 1 cycle to take place (will be both phases in a biphasic current)– phase duration important factor in determining

which tissue stimulated: if too short there will be no action potential

Stimulation Parameter:• Pulse rise time: the time to peak intensity of

the pulse (ramp)– rapid rising pulses cause nerve depolarization– Slow rise: the nerve accommodates to stimulus

and a action potential is not elicited• Good for muscle reeducation with assisted

contraction - ramping (shock of current is reduced)

Stimulation Parameters

• Pulse Frequency: (PPS=Hertz) How many pulses occur in a unit of time– Do not assume the lower the frequency the longer the

pulse duration– Low Frequency: 1K Hz and below (MENS .1-1K Hz),

muscle stim units)– Medium frequency: 1K ot 100K Hz (Interferential,

Russian stim LVGS)– High Frequency: above 100K Hz (TENS, HVGS,

diathermies)

Stimulation Parameter:• Current types: alternating or Direct Current

(AC or DC)– AC indicates that the energy travels in a

positive and negative direction. The wave form which occurs will be replicated on both sides of the isoelectric line

– DC indicated that the energy travels only in the positive or on in the negative direction

DC AC

Stimulation Parameter:• Waveforms; the path of the energy. May be

smooth (sine) spiked, square,, continuous etc.

• Method to direct current– Peaked - sharper– Sign - smoother

Stimulation Parameter:• Duty cycles: on-off time. May also be

called inter-pulse interval which is the time between pulses. The more rest of “off” time, the less muscle fatigue will occur– 1:1 Raito fatigues muscle rapidly– 1:5 ratio less fatigue– 1:7 no fatigue (passive muscle exercise)


– Average current (also called Root Mean Square)

• the “average” intensity

• Factors effective the average current:– pulse amplitude

– pulse duration

– waveform (DC has more net charge over time thus causing a thermal effect. AC has a zero net charge (ZNC). The DC may have long term adverse physiological effects)


• Current Density– The amount of charge per unit area. This is

usually relative to the size of the electrode. Density will be greater with a small electrode, but also the small electrode offers more resistance.

Capacitance:

• The ability of tissue (or other material) to store electricity. For a given current intensity and pulse duration– The higher the capacitance the longer before a

response. Body tissues have different capacitance. From least to most:

• Nerve (will fire first, if healthy)

• Muscle fiber

• Muscle tissue

Capacitance:

• Increase intensity (with decrease pulse duration) is needed to stimulate tissues with a higher capacitance.

• Muscle membrane has 10x the capacitance of nerve

Factors effecting the clinical application of electricity

– Factors effecting the clinical application of electricity Rise Time: the time to peak intensity• The onset of stimulation must be rapid

enough that tissue accommodation is prevented

• The lower the capacitance the less the charge can be stored

• If a stimulus is applied too slowly, it is dispersed

Factors effecting the clinical application of electricity

• An increase in the diameter of a nerve decreased it’s capacitance and it will respond more quickly. Thus, large nerves will respond more quickly than small nerves.

• Denervated muscles will require a long rise time to allow accommodation of sensory nerves. Best source for denervated muscle stimulation is continuous current DC

Factors effecting the clinical application of electricity:

• Ramp: A group of waveforms may be ramped (surge function) which is an increase of intensity over time.– The rise time is of the specific waveform and is

intrinsic to the machine.

Law of DuBois Reymond:• The amplitude of the individual stimulus must be

high enough so that depolarization of the membrane will occur.

• The rate of change of voltage must be sufficiently rapid so that accommodation does not occur

• The duration of the individual stimulus must be long enough so that the time course of the latent period (capacitance), action potential, and recovery can take place

Muscle Contractions

• Are described according to the pulse width– 1 pps = twitch– 10 pps = summation– 25-30 pps = tetanus (most fibers will reach

tetany by 50 pps)

Frequency selection:

• 100Hz - pain relief

• 50-60 Hz = muscle contraction

• 1-50 Hz = increased circulation

• The higher the frequency (Hz) the more quickly the muscle will fatigue

Electrodes used in clinical application of current:

– Electrodes used in clinical application of current:At least two electrodes are required to complete the circuit

– The body becomes the conductor– Monophasic application requires one negative

electrode and one positive electrode– The strongest stimulation is where the current exists

the body– Electrodes placed close together will give a

superficial stimulation and be of high density

Electrodes used in clinical application of current:

– Electrodes spaced far apart will penetrate more deeply with less current density

– Generally the larger the electrode the less density. If a large “dispersive” pad is creating muscle contractions there may be areas of high current concentration and other areas relatively inactive, thus functionally reducing the total size of the electrode

– A multitude of placement techniques may be used to create the clinical and physiological effects you desire

General E-Stim Parameters

Other:E lectrode Spacing

Burst Option, Voltage/Acc.Accupoint (1-5pps)

Tim e: 20-60 m in

PPS: 70-100Polarity: purpose & com fort

Hz: 100+Tens, HVGS, IFC

Pain

Other:E lectrode Spacing

Voltage/Acc.W ith m uscle cxn or pain reduction

Tim e: 20 m in

PPS: 120Polarity: negative

Hz: 100-150HVGS, IFC

Edem a

Other:E lectrode Spacing, surge

Burst Option, Voltage/Acc.Accupoint (1-5pps)

Tim e: Fatigue (1-15 m in)

PPS: 1-20Polarity: purpose & com fort

Hz: 50-60Type: depends on purpose

Muscle Re-ed.

O ther:E lectrode Spacing

Voltage/Acc.Accupoint

Tim e: 20 m in

PPS: vary but typically tens likePolarity: purpose & com fort

Hz: 100+ or 1(? inc. circ)IFC , Ionto, Mens (?)

Tissue Healing

E-Stim for Pain Control: typical Settings

Electrode P lacem entB iopolar: D ista l & P roxim al to m uscle

Monopolar: O ver m otor points

Alternating R ate: Alternating

Polarity: + or -

Pulse R ate: <1535-50 for tonic contraction

Intensity: S tong & com fortable

N eurom uscular S tim ulationH igh Volt Pulsed S tim

E lectrode P lacem entD irectly over m otor points

Mode: continuous

Phase D uration < 100 usec

Pulse R ate: 60-100 pps

Intensity: Sensory

G ate C ontro l TheoryH igh-Volt Pulsed S tim

E lectrode P lacem entD irectly over m otor points

Mode: C ontinuous

Phase D uration: 150-250 usec

Pulse R ate 2-4 pps

Intensity: Motor level

O piate R eleaseH igh-Volt Pulsed S tim

E lectrode P lacem entG rid Tech: d ista l & proxim al to site

Mode: 15-60 sec at each site

Phase D uration: 300-1000 usec

Pulse R ate: 120pps

Intensity: N oxiousType title here

Brief-Intense (P robe)H igh-Volt Pulsed S tim

High Volt Pulsed Stimulation

HVPS

• The application of monophasic current with a known polarity– typically a twin-peaked waveform

– duration of 5 - 260 msec

• Wide variety of uses:– muscle reeducation (requires 150V)

– nerve stimulation (requires 150V)

– edema reduction

– pain control

Clinical Application:• Physiological response

can be excitatory and non-excitatory

• Excitatory• Peripheral nerve

stimulation for pain modulation (sensory, motor and pain fibers)

• Promote circulation: inhibits sympathetic nervous system activity, muscle pumping and endogenous vasodilatation

• Non-Excitatory (cellular level)

• Protein synthesis

• Mobilization of blood proteins

• Bacteriocyte affects (by increased CT micro-circulation there is a reabsorption of the interstitial fluids)

General Background

• Early in history HVS was called EGS, then HVGS, then HVPS

• Current qualifications to be considered HVS– Must have twin peak monophasic current– Must have 100 or 150 volts (up to 500 V)

HVPS

• Precautions– Stimulation may cause

unwanted tension on muscle fibers

– Muscle fatigue if insufficient duty cycle

– Improper electrodes can burn or irritate

– Intense stim may result in muscle spasm or soreness

• Contraindications– Cardiac disability– Pacemakers– Pregnancy– Menstruation– Cancerous lesion– Infection– Metal implants– Nerve sensitivity

• Indications– past slide

Treatment Duration

• General - 15-30 minutes repeated as often as needed

• Pain reduction - sensory 30 minutes with 30 minute rest between tx

Current Parameters

• greater than 100-150 V• usually provides up to 500 V• high peak, low average current• strength duration curve = short pulse

duration required higher intensity for a response

• high peak intensities (watts) allow a deeper penetration with less superficial stimulation

Current Parameters• Pulse Rate:

– ranges from 1-120 pps

– varies according to the desire clinical application Current

• Pulse Charge– related to an excess or

deficiency of negatively charged particles

– associated with the beneficial or harmful responses (thermal, chemical, physical)

• Modulations– intrapulse spacing– duty cycle: reciprocal mode

usually 1:1 ratio– ramped or surged cycles

• Clinical Considerations:– always reset intensity after use

(safety)– electrode arrangements may be

mono or bipolar– units usually have a hand held

probe for local (point) stimulation

– most units have an intensity balance control

Application Techniques– Monopolar: 2 unequal sized electrodes. Smaller is

generally over the treatment site and the large serves as a dispersive pad, usually located proximal to the treatment area

– Bipolar: two electrodes of equal size, both are over or near the treatment site

– Water immersion - used for irregularly shaped areas– Probes: one hand-held active lead

• advantages: can locate and treat small triggers• disadvantages: one on one treatment requires full attention of

the trainer

Electrodes

• Material– carbon impregnated silicone electrodes are

recommended but will develop hot spots with repeated use

– you want conductive durable and flexible material

– tin with overlying sponge has a decreased conformity and reduced conductivity

Electrodes

• Size– based on size of target area– current density is important. The smaller the

electrode size the greater the density

Neuromuscular Stimulation• Roles:

– re-educate a muscle how to contract after immobilization (does not produce strength augmentation but retards atrophy)

Parameter Setting

Intensity Strong, comfortable

Pulsefrequency

Muscle cxn <15ppsTonic cxn 35-50 pps

Polarity + or -

Alternation Yes

Pain Control• Roles:

– Control acute or chronic pain both sensory (gate control - 100-150 pps)) and motor level (opiate release - through voltage)

Parameter Setting for Gate ControlMethod

Intensity Sensory

Pulsefrequency

60-100 pps

PhaseDuration

< 100sec

Mode Continuous

Placement Directly over pain site

Parameter Setting OpiateRelease

Intensity Motor Level 150V

PhaseDuration

150-250 msec

Pulsefrequency

2-4pps

Mode Continuous

Placement Directly over pain site

Pain Control - Opiate Release Setting

Control and Reduction of Edema• Roles:

– Sensory level used to limit acute edema– Motor-level stimulation used to recude

subacute or chronic inflammation

Parameter Setting Sensory Level Control

Intensity Sensory

Pulsefrequency

120 pps

Polarity -

PulseDuration

Maximum allowed by generator

Mode Continuous

Motor-Level Edema Reduction– Cell Metabolism: increased and may increase

blood flow– Wound Healing: May increase collagnase

levels and inhibit bacteria in infected wounds (for this effect 20 min - polarity followed by 40 min + polarity recommended)Parameter Setting

Intensity Strong, comfortable

Pulsefrequency

Low 2-4 pps

Polarity + or -

Alternation Yes

T.E.N.S.

General Concepts:• An Approach to pain control

– Trancutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation:– Any stimulation in which a current is applied across the

skin to stimulate nerves– 1965 Gate Control Theory created a great popularity of

TENS– TENS has 50-80% efficacy rate– TENS stimulates afferent sensory fibers to elicit

production of neurohumneral substances such as endorphins, enkephalins and serotonin (i.e. gate theory)

TENS

• Indications– Control Chronic Pain

– Management post-surgical pain

– Reduction of post-traumatic & acute pain

• Precautions– Can mask underlying pain

– Burns or skin irritation

– prolonged use may result in muscle spasm/soreness

– caffeine intake may reduce effectiveness

– Narcotics decrease effectiveness

TENS may be:

• high voltage

• interferential

• acuscope

• low voltage AC stimulator

• classical portable TENS unit

Biophysical Effects

• Primary use is to control pain through Gate Control Theory

• May produce muscle contractions• Various methods

– High TENS (Activate A-delta fibers)

– Low TENS (release of -endorphins from pituitary)

– Brief-Intense TENS (noxious stimulation to active C fibers)

Techniques of TENS application:

• Conventional or High Frequency

• Acupuncture or Low Frequency

• Brief Intense

• Burst Mode

• Modulated

Protocol for Various Methods of TENS

Parameter High TENS Low TENS Brief-IntenseTENS

Intensity Sensory Motor Noxious

Pulse Fq 60-100 pps 2-4 pps Variable

PulseDuration

60-100 sec 150-250 sec 300-1000sec

Mode Modulated ModulatedBurst

Modluated

Tx Duration As needed 30 min 15-30 min

Onset ofRelief

< 10 min 20-40 min <15 min

Conventional Tens/High Frequency TENS

• Paresthesia is created without motor response

• A Beta filers are stimulated to SG enkephlin interneuron (pure gate theory)

• Creates the fastest relief of all techniques• Applied 30 minutes to 24 hours• relief is short lives (45 sec 1/2 life)• May stop the pain-spasms cycle

Application of High TENS

• Pulse rate: high 75-100 Hz (generally 80), constant

• Pulse width: narrow, less than 300 mSec generally 60 microSec

• Intensity: comfortable to tolerance

Set up:

• 2 to 4 electrodes, often will be placed on post-op. Readjust parameters after response has been established. Turn on the intensity to a strong stimulation. Increase the pulse width and ask if the stimulation is getting wider (if deeper=good, if stronger...use shorter width)

Low Frequency/Acupuncture-like TENS:

• Level III pain relief, A delta fibers get Beta endorphins

• Longer lasting pain relief but slower to start• Application

– pulse rate low 1-5ppx (below 10)– Pulse width: 200-300 microSec– Intensity: strong you want rhythmical

contractions within the patient’s tolerance

Burst Mode TENS– Carrier frequency is at a certain rate with a built in duty

cycle– Similar to low frequency TENS– Carrier frequency of 70-100 Hz packaged in bursts of

about 7 bursts per second– Pulses within burst can vary– Burst frequency is 1-5 bursts per second– Strong contraction at lower frequencies– Combines efficacy of low rate TENS with the comfort

of conventional TENS

Burst Mode TENS - Application

• Pulse width: high 100-200 microSec

• Pulse rate: 70-100 pps modulated to 1-5 burst/sec

• Intensity: strong but comfortable

• treatment length: 20-60 minutes

Brief, Intense TENS: hyper-stimulation analgesia

– Stimulates C fibers for level II pain control (PAG etc.)

– Similar to high frequency TENS

– Highest rate (100 Hz), 200 mSec pulse width intensity to a very strong but tolerable level

– Treatment time is only 15 minutes, if no relief then treat again after 2-3 minutes

– Mono or biphasic current give a “bee sting” sensation

– Utilize motor, trigger or acupuncture points.

Brief Intense TENS - Application

• Pulse width: as high as possible

• Pulse rate: depends on the type of stimulator

• Intensity: as high as tolerated

• Duration: 15 minutes with conventional TENS unit. Locus stimulator is advocated for this treatment type, treatment time is 30 seconds per point.

Locus point stimulator

• Locus (point) stimulators treatment occurs once per day generally 8 points per session– Auricular points are often utilized

• Treat distal to proximal

• Allow three treatment trails before efficacy is determined

• Use first then try other modalities

Modulated Stimulation:

• Keeps tissues reactive so no accommodation occurs

• Simultaneous modulation of amplitude and pulse width

• As amplitude is decreased, pulse width is automatically increased to deliver more consistent energy per pulse

• Rate can also be modulated

Electrode Placement:

• May be over the painful sites, dermatomes, myotomes, trigger points, acupuncture points or spinal nerve roots.

• May be crossed or uncrossed (horizontal or vertical

Contraindications:

• Demand pacemakers

• over carotid sinuses

• Pregnancy

• Cerebral vascular disorders (stroke patients)

• Over the chest if patient has any cardiac condition

Interferential Current - IFC

Interferential Current

• History: In 1950 Nemec used interference of electrical currents to achieve therapeutic benefits. Further research and refinements have led to the current IFC available today– Two AC are generated on separate channels (one

channel produces a constant high frequency sine wave (4000-5000Hz) and the other a variable sine wave

– The channels combine/interface to produce a frequency of 1-100 Hz (medium frequency)

Effects of IFC treatment:• Sensory nerve fibers - Pain reduction - receive a

lower amplitude stimulation than the area of tissue affected by the vector, thus IFC is said to be more comfortable than equal amplitudes delivered by conventional means

• Muscle fatigue - muscle spasm - is reduced when using IFC versus HVS due to the asynchronous firing of the motor units being stimulated

Positive effects of IFC include:

• reduction of pain and muscle discomfort following joint or muscle trauma

• these effects can be obtained with the of IFC and without associated muscle fatigue which may predispose the athlete to further injury.

Principles of wave interference - Combined Effects

• Constructive, Destructive, & Continuous

• Constructive interference: when two sinusoidal waves that are exactly in phase or one, two, three or more wavelengths our of phase, the waves supplement each other in constructive interference

+ =


• Destructive interference: when the two waves are different by 1/2 a wavelength (of any multiple) the result is cancellation of both waves

+ =


• Continuous Interference– Two waves slightly out of phase collide and

form a single wave with progressively increasing and decreasing amplitude

=+

Amplitude-Modulated Beats:

• Rate at which the resultant waveform (from continuous interference) changes

• When sine waves from two similar sources have different frequencies are out of phase and blend (heterodyne) to produce the interference beating effect

IFC

• Duration of tx 15-20 minutes– Burst mode typically

applied 3x a week in 30 minute bouts

• Precautions– same as all electrical

currents

• Contraindications– Pain of central origin

– Pain of unknown origin

• Indications– Acute pain

– Chronic pain

– Muscle spasm

IFC Techniques of treatment:• Almost exclusively IFC is delivered using the

four-pad or quad-polar technique.• Various electrode positioning techniques are

employed:– Electrodes (Nemectrody: vacuum electrodes):

• four independent pads allow specific placement of pads to achieve desired effect an understanding of the current interference is essential

• four electrodes in one applicator allows IFC treatment to very small surface areas. The field vector is pre-determined by the equipment

Quad-polar Technique

• Pads placed at 45º angles from center of tx area

• Can reduce inaccuracy of appropriate tissues by selecting rotation or scan

Channel A

Channel B

Channel A

Channel B

SCAN

Bipolar Electrode Placement

• The mix of two channels occurs in generator instead of tissues

• Biopolar does not penetrate tissues as deeply, but is more accurate

• When effects are targeted for one muscle or muscle group only one channel is used

Two-circuit IFC:– At other points along the time axes the wave

amplitude will be zero because the positive phase from one circuit cancels the negative phase from the second circuit (destructive interference)

– The rhythmical rise and fall of the amplitude results in a beat frequency and is equal to the number of times each second that the current amplitude increases to its maximum value and then decreases to its minimum value

Special Modulations of IFC:

– Constant beat frequencies (model): the difference between the frequencies of the two circuits is constant and the result is a constant beat frequency. That is, if the difference in frequency between the two circuits is 40 pps, the beat frequency will be constant at 40 bps.

Special Modulations of IFC:

– Variable beat mode: the frequency between the two circuits varies within preselected ranges. The time taken to vary the beat frequency through any programmed range is usually fixed by the device at about 15 sec. IFC machines often allow the clinician to choose from a variety of beat frequency programs.

Pain Control– Similar to TENS - beat frequency 100Hz

– Low beat frequencies when combined with motor level intensities (2-10Hz) initiate the release of opiates

– 30 Hz frequencies affects the widest range of receptors

Parameter Range

Intensity Sensory

Electrode Config Quadpolar

Beat Fq High – Gate ControlLow – Opiate release

Sweep Fq Long Duration

Neuromuscular Stimulation• Beat frequency of approximately 15 HZ is

used to reduce edema

• General ParametersParameter Range

Intensity 1-100mA

Carrier Fq 2500-5000Hz

Beat Fq 0-299 Hz

Sweep Fq 10-500sec

IFC Technique of treatment:– Electrode placement:

• The resultant vector should be visualized in placing the electrodes for a treatment . The target tissue should be identified and the vector positioned to hit that area. Typically at 45º angles is most effective.

• Segregation of the pin tips is essential in the proper electrode positioning for IFC. The electrodes may be of the same size or two different sizes (causing a shift in the intersecting vector). Treatment through a joint has also been advocated without adequate research to establish efficacy of the treatment technique.

Bone Stimulating Current:

– Bone Stimulating Current:Bone Stimulating Current:IFC has been used (Laabs et al) studied the healing of a surgically induced fracture in the forelegs of sheep. Their study indicated an acceleration of healing in the sheep treated with IFC as compared to the control group


– This study validated an earlier study by Gittler and Kleditzsch which showed similar results in callus formation in rabbits. Several other studies have shown an increase in the healing rate of fractures but the exact mechanism by which the healing occurs is not understood.


– Some speculation is that an increased blood flow to the injured area is produced which allowed natural healing processes to occur more rapidly.

– In one study (mandible fractures ) the IFC caused very mild muscle contraction of the jaw and this muscle activity was thought to have been a potential accelerator of the healing.

MENS and IONTOPHORESIS

MENS

• No universally accepted definition or protocol & has yet to be substantiated

• This form of modality is at the sub-sensory or very low sensory level– current less than 1000A (approx 1/1000 amp

of TENS)

Biophysical Effects

• Theory:– Currents below 500A increases the level of

ATP (high Amp decreases ATP levels)– Increase in ATP encourages amino acid

transport and increased protein synthesis– MENS reestablishes the body’s natural

electrical balance allowing metabolic energy for healing without shocking the system (other types of e-stim)

MENS• Duration

– 30 min to 2 hours up to 4x a day

• Precautions– Dehydrated patients– on Scar tissue (too

much impedance)

• Contraindications– Pain of unknown origin– Osteomyelitis

• Indications– Acute & Chronic Pain

– Acute & Chronic Inflammation

– Edema reduction

– sprains & Strains

– Contusion

– TMJ dysfunction

– Neuropathies

– Superficial wound healing

– Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Electrode Placement

• Electrodes should be placed in a like that transects the target tissues– Remember that electrical current travels in path

of least resistance, thus it is not always a straight line.

TARGET

Application Techniques

• Standard electrical stimulation pads– generator may have bells & Whistles since

MENS is subsensory

• Probe

Bone Stimulating Current:– MENS

• Has been advocated in the healing of bone, using implanted electrodes and delivering a DC current with the negative pole at the fracture site. Further use of MENS has allowed increased rate of fracture healing using surface electrodes in a non-invasive technique. Theories on the physiology behind the healing focus on the electrical charge present in the normal tissue as compared to the electrical charge found with the injured tissue. MENS is said to allow an induction of an electrical charge to return to he tissues to a better “healing” environment

Iontophoresis

Iontophoresis:

• The transfer of ions across the skin (transdermal)by use of continuous direct current– Iontophoresis is based on the principle that an

electrically charged electrode will repel a similarly charged ion (first reported by LeDuc in 1903).

– Delivers a low-volt High-amp DC current

– Local blood flow is increased for 1 hour post tx

Iontophoresis• Duration of Tx:

– Based on intensity desired usually every other day for 3 weeks

• Indications– Acute or Chronic Inflam

– Arthritis

– Myositis

– Myofacial Pain Syndromes

– Invasive method for delivering drugs

• Contraindications– Hypersensitivity to

electrical currents

– Contraindications to meds.

– Pain of unknown origin

• Precautions– Prescription

– Dosage

– Do not reuse electrode

– Burns if intensity to great

Iontophoresis– Effects of treatment depends on the ion(s) delivered

• musculoskeletal inflammatory conditions (tendonitis, bursitis) have been successfully treated:

• Using desamethosone sodium phosphate (decadron) and Xylocaine

• Reduction of edema has been achieved by driving hyaluronidase

• Transitory (5min) local anesthesia has been produced by delivering lidocaine to the tissues. The anesthesia was better than that achieved by topical application but less effective than infiltration of the area with lidocaine.

Medication Dosage

• Medication dose delivered during tx is measured in mA based on relationship of amperage, tx duration

– Current Amp (mA) x Tx Duration - mA/min

• Iontophoresors are dose-oriented - where user indicated desired tx does and generator calculated duration and intensity

Biophysical Effects

• Dependant on Medication

• See following chart

Sample MedicationsMeds Pathology Dose Polarity

Acetic Acid Myositis 80mA/min +

Dexamethasone& Lidocain

Inflammation& Pain control

41mA/min& 40 mA

-

Lidocain &Epinphrine

Pain Control 30mA/min +

Lidocain &Epinphrine

Pain Control 20 mA/min +

Dexamethasone Inflammation 41mA/min -

Electrode Placement

• Delivery Electrode (drug electrode)– placed over target tissue

• Active electrode (dispersive electrode)– place 4-6 inches from drug electrode

Side Effects: Tissue “burning”– An alkaline reaction occurs under the cathode

(negative electrode) which is much more caustic to the skin than the acidic reaction occurring at the anode. The cathode may be increased in size to attempt to decrease this caustic reaction

Side Effects: Tissue “burning”– Continuous unidirectional current (as needed for

iontophoresis) tends to cause tissue irritation because skin will not tolerate current density greater than 1mA/sq.cm. Thin tissue areas, areas of skin abrasion and areas of scarring are certain areas to avoid. This potential for burn is exacerbated by the fact that there is an anesthetic effect of DC under the electrode. Thus tissue irritation may develop without the patient’s realization

– Don’t need to drive every day 1-2x a week

Principles of Electrical Currents. Electricity is an element of PT modalities most frightening and...

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Transcript of Principles of Electrical Currents. Electricity is an element of PT modalities most frightening and...