Introduction to Electrotherapy

1. ELECTROTHERAPY

2. ELECTROTHERAPY
 The use of electric currents passed through
the body to stimulate nerves and muscles,
chiefly in the treatment of various forms of
diseases.

3. CURRENTS
 Electric current:
 The movement or flow of charged
particles through a conductor in
response to an applied electric field
 Current is noted as I
 is measured in Amperes( A).

4. CURRENTS
 Conventional Current assumes that
current flows out of the positive terminal,
through the circuit and into the negative
terminal of the source. This was the
convention chosen during the discovery of
electricity.
 They were wrong!
 Electron Flow is what actually happens
and electrons flow out of the negative
terminal, through the circuit and into the
positive terminal of the source.

5. CURRENTS
 Charge: One of the basic properties of
matter ,which either has no charge( is
electrically neutral),
 or may be negatively (-)
 or positively (+) charged
 Charge Is noted as Q and is measured
in Coulombs( C).

6. CURRENTS
 Polarity:
 The property of having two oppositely
charged conductors, with the positive
called the anode, and the negative
called the cathode.
 in a conductor, free electrons flow from
an area of excess electrons( negative
pole) to an area deficient in electrons
( Positive Pole)

7. CURRENTS
 Voltage:
 The electrical force capable of moving
charged particles through a conductor
between two regions or points.
 Voltage is also known as the" potential
difference”
 Voltage is noted as V and is Measured
in volts (V)

8. CURRENTS
 FREQUENCY:
 frequency is the number of complete
cycles per second in alternating current
direction. The standard unit of frequency
is the hertz, abbreviated Hz.
 If a current completes one cycle per
second, then the frequency is 1 Hz;
 60 cycles per second equals 60 Hz

9. CURRENTS
 FREQUENCY;
 Larger units of frequency include the kilohertz
(kHz) representing thousands (1,000's) of
cycles per second, the megahertz (MHz)
representing millions (1,000,000's) of cycles
per second, and the gigahertz (GHz)
representing billions (1,000,000,000's) of
cycles per second. Occasionally the terahertz
(THz) is used; 1 THz = 1,000,000,000,000
cycles per second.

10. CURRENTS
 Direct Current (DC);
 A continuous unidirectional flow of
charged particles is known as direct
current (DC).
 Direct current is used to for
iontophoresis and for stimulating
contraction of denervated muscle and
also occasionally to facilitate wound
healing

11. CURRENTS

12. CURRENTS
 Alternating Current (AC);
 A continuous bidirectional flow of
charged particles is known as
alternating current (A C)

13. CURRENTS

14. CURRENTS
 Pulsed Current or Pulsatile Current:
Electrical current can be delivered
discontinuously in a series of pulses
separated by periods when no current
flows.
 This is known as pulsed or pulsatile
current.

15. PULSED CURRENT

16. CURRENTS
 A review on the differences…
 High Frequency Currents
 Medium Frequency Currents
 Low Frequency Currents

17. CURRENTS
 HIGH FREQUENCY CURRENTS
 •Frequency is >6000 Hz
 •Short wavelengths (<10 mm)
 •Effects occur only at superficial
structures
 •General effect = HEATING
 •Sample modalities:
 US, MWD, SWD, IRR, UVR, LASER

18. CURRENTS
 MEDIUM and LOW FREQUENCY
CURRENTS
 •Frequency ranges from 1 to 6000 Hz
 •Longer wavelengths (>10 mm)
 •Effects occur at deeper structures
 •General effects:
 MFC: blocks pain
 LFC: nerve stimulation

19. CURRENTS
 MEDIUM and LOW FREQUENCY
CURRENTS
 •Simple modalities:
 •Electrical stimulators, Diadynamics,
Biofeedback, Iontophoresis, TENS, IF,
Faradic.

20. CURRENTS
:
 LOW FREQUENCY CURRENT
 MEDIUM FREQUENCY CURRENT

21. CURRENTS
 LOW FREQUENCY CURRENT:
 It includes;
 Faradic current.
 Sinusoidal current.
 Galvanic current.
 Superimposed currents.
 TENS.
 Dia-dynamic currents.

22. CURRENTS
 MEDIUM FREQUENCY CURRENTS:
 INTERFRENTIAL CURRENT.

23. HIGH FREQUENCY
CURRENTS
SHORTWAVE DIATHERMY
MICROWAVE DIATHERMY