Electrotherapy is a method used to reduce pain or discomfort. According to the Spine Health website, electrotherapy is the use of electrical energy as a medical treatment for a variety of health problems. Electrotherapy is used by many types of health care practitioners, including medical doctors, physical therapists, chiropractic physicians and naturopathic physicians. Electrotherapy uses electrical frequencies and waveforms to stimulate healing of injured tissues.
History
Electrotherapy has been used to treat pain for more than a century. The Spine Health website states that although early proponents of electrotherapy did not understand the mechanisms or the reasons that electrotherapy healed wounds and treated various conditions, and although they were believed to be charlatans, recent scientific studies have verified that electrotherapy is an effective treatment modality. Electrotherapy.org states that electrotherapy, as a healing modality, has changed considerably since its early days. Guillaume Duchenne--a French neurologist--is credited as the developer of modern electrotherapy.
Purpose
Electrotherapy has numerous medical and health applications. According to Electrotherapy.org, the two principle applications--or the applications for which electrotherapy is most commonly used--are tissue healing or wound repair and pain relief. Electrotherapy can assist the wound repair process or stimulate this process if would healing is delayed. The Spine Health website states that although the precise mechanisms of electrotherapy remain controversial, electrotherapy might block the transmission of pain signals along the nerves and promote endorphin release. Endorphins are natural painkillers produced by the body.
Types
Over time, several types of electrotherapy modalities have been developed for medical purposes. According to Electrotherapy.org, the most common types of electrotherapy in use today include interferential current or IFC, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or TENS, pulsed shortwave therapy, laser therapy, combination therapy and biofeedback. Less common types of electrotherapy include microcurrent therapy, magnetic therapy, iontophoresis, russian stimulation, shockwave therapies, diadynamic therapy and H wave therapy. Some physicians also regard ultrasound as a type of electrotherapy.
Conditions
Electrotherapy is an effective treatment modality for many health conditions. Chronic or longstanding pain is one of the most common health problems for which electrotherapy is used. Other possible health problems or conditions that may benefit from electrotherapy include post-herpetic neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, chronic neck, back or extremity pain, herpes zoster or shingles, phantom limb pain, swelling, hematomas or bruises, spinal disc problems, certain types of muscle atrophy or wasting, ligament injuries and inflammatory joint conditions, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
Contraindications
Certain electrotherapy modalities may not be appropriate for certain individuals or certain medical conditions. According to Electrotherapy.org, contraindications for electrotherapy might include pregnancy, malignancy or cancer, treatment of specialized tissues such as the eyes and testes, pacemakers, metal implants and other implants, local circulatory problems, epilepsy, actively bleeding tissue and conditions, such as diabetes, that cause decreased sensation. A health care professional will assess a person's health history and suitability before applying electrotherapy as a treatment.
