PHYSIOTHERAPY AND
REHABILITATION ENG
ELECTROTHERAPY I
Lecturer Maria Idrees
ELECTROTHERAPY
• Electrotherapy is a word that means only treatment, but nowadays it
is a wider use of electrophysiologic agents for both evaluation and
treatment.
• The terms "electrotherapy" and "electrophysiological agents" are
interchangeable terms used for the evaluation and treatment by
electrophysiologic agents which externally applied to the human
body.
ELECTRICAL STIMULATION GENERAL
INFORMATION
• Electrostimulation is defined as stimulating muscle and nerve cells
that can be stimulated by electric currents.
• Electrons flowing from the electrotherapy device > to the electrodes >
to the patient's skin cause ion flow and movement in the biological
tissues beneath the electrodes.
Must Watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYLyhXRp298
The Main Effects of Electricity on Biological
Tissues
CHANGES IN OUR TISSUES WHEN ELECTRIC
CURRENT IS APPLIED
• 1. Electrochemical Effects
• Acidic reactions occur under the anode and alkaline reactions under
the cathode on the skin and the pH of the skin changes.
• The body responds to this change with "increased blood circulation in
the relevant area".
• Continuation of the pH change and polarization creates a chemical
"burn risk" in the area of interest.
CHANGES IN OUR TISSUES WHEN ELECTRIC
CURRENT IS APPLIED
• 2. Electrothermal Effects
• The movement of charged particles causes microvibration.
• This vibration and friction effect causes heating of biological tissues.
• Electrode permeability, skin resistance and the type of current
applied are the issues to be considered in preventing burns.
CHANGES IN OUR TISSUES WHEN ELECTRIC
CURRENT IS APPLIED
• 3.Electrophysical Effects
• The most important result of ion mobility under the skin is
depolarization of the peripheral nerves.
PARAMETERS OF ELECTRICAL STIMULATION
Monophasic
• 1. Wave Shape Current
• The spread ways of electric currents Asymmetric
Biphasic
differ.
• Different types of waves are
obtained with changes in current Alternating
Current
intensity, duration and frequency.
Balanced
Biphasic
PARAMETERS OF ELECTRICAL STIMULATION
• 2. Current Modulation
• Continuous mode: It is the uninterrupted flow of current.
• Intermittent/Pulsed mode: The current is interrupted for periods of
one second or more.
• Surged mode: It is the gradual increase and decrease of current
density for a limited time.
• Ramped mode: It is the gradual increase of the current density up to
a specified level in a specified time following a gradual decrease.
PARAMETERS OF ELECTRICAL STIMULATION
• 2. Current Modulation
• Pulsed current is used to strengthen skeletal muscle and stimulate
activity. Because it is a series of beats, the muscle fibers are
frequently stimulated, causing tetanic contraction.
• Since direct current is continuous, it does not cause a tetanic
contraction. Direct current depolarizes the muscles and causes only a
single twitch.
PARAMETERS OF ELECTRICAL STIMULATION
• 3. Current Duration
• It is the time between the beginning and end of all phases involved in
a beat.
• Also known as pulse width.
PARAMETERS OF ELECTRICAL STIMULATION
• 4. Frequency
• It is the number of pulses transmitted per second.
• It is usually expressed in Hertz (Hz).
• More frequent current delivery increases the amount of normal
charge delivered per unit of time and the response of the muscle
increases.
• So; The muscle response is directly related to the frequency of the
current.
PARAMETERS OF ELECTRICAL STIMULATION
• 5. Amplitude (Intensity)
• It is also known as density.
• It expresses the vertical amplitude of a pulse throughout the phase.
• It is measured as voltage or current.
• The voltage used in clinic is 10-100V, the current is 10-100mA.
PARAMETERS OF ELECTRICAL STIMULATION
• 6. Stimulation and Rest Time (on-off)
• The time during which the current is transmitted is the stimulation
time (on) and the period during which the current transmission stops
is expressed as the rest time (off).
PARAMETERS OF ELECTRICAL STIMULATION
• 7. Ramp Up-Ramp Down Duration
• Ramp up-ramp down duration is the time between a beat reaching
the upper value and falling from the upper value to 0.
• Frequently 1-3 second ramp times are used in the clinic.
• 1. Phase duration
• 2. Cycle duration
• 3. Amplitude
• 4. Amplitude between peaks
• 5. Rest between beats
• 6. Rest between phases
