ELECTRICAL
FUNDAMENTALS
Sourav Mitra
BPT (WBUHS), MPT (Neurology), FIMT
Assistant Professor of Brainware University
INTRODUCTION
Electrotherapy is a section of physiotherapy, which is
concerned with the treatment of pathological conditions by
the passage of electrical current or radiation rays through the
body.
Electric currents passed through a biological system can
produce thermal, physiochemical and physiologic effect.
STRUCTURE OF ATOM
The structure of matter that shapes the world around us has
been a subject of study since long.
The first contribution came from John Dalton (1808), who
postulated that matter is composed of atoms.
The structure of atom was first described by J J Thompson
(1897) and later modified by Rutherford (1911) and Neil Bohr
(1940).
ATOM
An atom can be described as the smallest particle of an
element.
It contains the central nucleus in which two particles protons
and neutrons are held together by strong nuclear forces and
are surrounded by negatively charged particles called
electrons.
PARTS OF ATOM
NUCLEUS:
- The whole mass of an atom is concentrated in the central part
called the nucleus. It consists of positively charged protons
and neutral charged neutrons
PROTONS:
- Protons were discovered by Gold stein (1900). They are
comparatively larger in size and bears a positive charge.
PARTS OF ATOM
NEUTRONS:
- Neutrons were discovered by James Chadwick (1932). The
neutrons possess no charge and are therefore electrically
neutral.
THE ELECTRON:
- Electrons were discovered by J. J. Thomson (1897). Electrons
are negatively charged particles found revolving around the
nucleus in fixed orbits.
ELECTRIC CURRENT
Electric current is the flow of electrons through a conducting
medium when a potential is placed across the ends of the
conducting pathway. The direction of the current flow is
exactly the reverse of the direction of the flow of electrons.
The essential factors for the production of an electric current
are the difference of potential (PD), a conducting pathway
between the points of potential difference.
This potential difference is achieved by the use of a battery or
electromagnetic induction with a dynamo.
ELECTRIC CURRENT
• Electromotive Force (EMF) (E)
- The force that causes the movement of electrons is called
electromotive force (EMF) and it is measured in volt.
• Resistance (R)
- It is the property inherent in any material, which opposes an
electrical current flow. The unit of electrical resistance is Ohm.
ELECTRIC CURRENT
Magnitude of Current (I)
- The intensity or magnitude of current (I) is the rate of flow of
electrons through the conductor per second. It is measured in
Ampere.
ELECTRIC CURRENT
RELATIONSHIP AMONG MAGNITUDE OF CURRENT FLOW,
VOLTAGE AND RESISTANCE :
- The relationship of the above three factors is stated in Ohm’s
law, which states that the magnitude of an electric current
varies directly with the EMF and inversely with the resistance.
- The formula expressing Ohm’s law – I = E/R
That is, Amp = (Volt/ Ohm),
Where, I = current flow measured in Ampere.
E = emf measured in Volt.
R = resistance in Ohms.
ELECTRIC CURRENT
ELECTRICAL POWER
- Power is the rate of doing work. To calculate this, time has to
be considered. It is measured in Watts.
- Power (in Watts) = emf (Volt) × current (Coulomb)
ELECTRIC CURRENT
FREQUENCY
- It is the number of events occurring in unit time, i.e. number
of complete waves passing any fixed point in one second and
is measured in Hertz.
- By low frequency alternating current in electrotherapy we
mean current with frequencies between 50 to 100 cycles per
second (50-100 Hz).
- High frequency alternating current has a frequency of 1,000,
000 c/sec (1 MHz).
- Very high frequency alternating currents are in range of 1-50
MHz.
ELECTRIC CURRENT
The characteristics of electrotherapeutic currents include
their direction, pulse, shape and amplitude.
The Duration of Current Flow
- It is the period of time the current flows for each individual
wave or pulse. This period can vary from milliseconds for
interrupted DC or AC to minutes in uninterrupted DC.
ELECTRIC CURRENT
• The Amplitude of the Current Flow
- It is the magnitude of current. The peak current is the
maximum amplitude of the current.
• Surging of Current
- In a surging current the intensity of each successive pulse
gradually increases in such a manner that each impulse
reaches to higher intensity than that of the preceding one and
after the peak levels it either falls suddenly or gradually.
Surging currents (Saw-tooth, triangular)
CLASSIFICATION CURRENT
Therapeutic current can be classified on the basis of direction,
frequency, voltage, amperage and biophysical effects.
a. On the basis of direction of flow of current:
Alternating current—which flow in both direction.
Direct current—which flow in one direction.
CLASSIFICATION CURRENT
b. On the basis of frequency:
Low frequency currents – Range 50 to 100 Hz per second. The
primary use is stimulation of nerve and muscles. Various types of
currents are used in this category like direct current, interrupted
direct, high voltage pulse galvanic current, and TENS.
Medium frequency currents – Range 100 to 4000 Hz per second.
These are basically used to stimulate deep-seated muscles and
nerves. Example, interferential currents.
High frequency current - Here the frequency is more than 1MHz
and are used for deep voluminous heating of tissues. Example,
Short Wave Diathermy (SWD), Microwave Diathermy (MWD), and
Ultrasound Therapy (UST).
CLASSIFICATION CURRENT
c. On the basis of voltage:
Low voltage currents—where voltage is less than 100 Volt as
in low frequency currents.
High voltage currents—where voltage is greater than 100 Volt
as in high frequency currents.
CLASSIFICATION CURRENT
d. On the basis of amperage:
Low amperage currents—where amperage is in the range of 1
to 30 mAmp. Example, high TENS.
High amperage currents—where amperage remains from 500
to 2000 mAmp.
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