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Electrotherapy can address pain and tissue repair associated with:
Musculo-skeletal rehabilitation
Neurological rehabilitation
Back, neck and joint pain
Arthritis
Incontinence
Sport specific strengthening and recovery
"For individuals suffering from acute or chronic pain, muscle injuries, or those undergoing rehabilitation, our electrotherapy modality offers a clinically proven, non-invasive solution that provides targeted pain relief, reduces inflammation, and stimulates muscle recovery. Unlike oral pain medications that only mask the symptoms or invasive procedures that carry higher risks, our technology uses precise electrical stimulation to promote natural healing processes, enhance muscle strength, and improve mobility—offering a drug-free, long-term approach to wellness."
How does it work?
Electrotherapy involves the introduction of physical energy into tissue to influence a biological effect for therapeutic benefit. There are many ways that this can be achieved, using different electrical waveforms or sound waves, but the underlying principle is to enhance the body's ability to stimulate, direct and control the pain and repair processes
Breakdown of the general mechanisms for the most common electrotherapy modalities:
Gate Control Theory of Pain: TENS stimulates sensory nerve fibers, which compete with pain signals traveling to the brain. By activating the sensory nerves, TENS "closes the gate" to pain signals, preventing them from reaching the brain.
Endorphin Release: Low-frequency TENS can also stimulate the production of endogenous opioids (endorphins) in the body, which act as natural painkillers.
2. NMES (Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation)
Purpose: Muscle strengthening, re-education, or recovery.
Mechanism:
NMES works by sending electrical impulses directly to the motor neurons, which causes the muscles to contract. These contractions mimic voluntary muscle movements, which can help strengthen weak muscles, improve muscle tone, and increase blood flow to the area.
Rehabilitation: In patients with muscle atrophy or weakened muscles due to injury or disuse, NMES can help retrain muscles by stimulating contraction without voluntary movement.
3. IFC (Interferential Current Therapy)
Purpose:
Pain relief, especially deep tissue pain.
Mechanism:
IFC combines two medium-frequency currents that intersect at the treatment area, creating a low-frequency current. This low-frequency stimulation can penetrate deeper into tissues, reducing pain, and improving blood flow.
The interference pattern created by the intersecting currents increases stimulation in the targeted area, providing relief for conditions such as deep muscle or joint pain.
4. HVPC (High Voltage Pulsed Current)
Purpose:
Helps with stimulating blood flow.
Mechanism:
HVPC delivers high-voltage, short-duration electrical pulses that promote tissue healing by stimulating cellular activity. It works by:
Improving circulation: Increases blood flow to the area, which helps deliver oxygen and nutrients necessary for tissue repair.
5. Microcurrent Therapy
Purpose:
Tissue repair and pain management.
Mechanism:
Microcurrent therapy delivers extremely low electrical currents (in the microampere range) that mimic the body’s natural electrical signals.
It also improves blood flow contributing to pain relief.
The overall effect of electrotherapy is to enhance the body’s natural healing processes, modulate pain, or improve muscle function depending on the specific treatment modality.
Device Benefits
MI technology: Muscle Intelligence™ technology automatically customises the stimulation parameters according to each patient's physiology.
Wireless: Eliminate any constraints on use by making it easy for your patient to get settled in, while giving them complete freedom of movement. Wireless technology
invites you to combine electrotherapy with active exercises to make your sessions more effective.
WHAT IS VARIABLE MUSCLE STIMULATION (VMS)?
VMS is a symmetric biphasic waveform with a 100μs pause interval. This pause allows the nerve time to recover and allows continuous contractions with less neural fatigue.
INCREASE FORCE OUTPUT
VMS has 14.8% higher force output compared to Russian at the same settings. The patient achieves a stronger muscle contraction at the same level of comfort.
EXPERIENCE LESS DISCOMFORT
Patients experience stronger muscle contractions with 10.3% less current amplitude.
DECREASE FATIGUE
Experience less neural fatigue over the course of 10 repetitions. VMS works the muscle harder than Russian over 10 reps.
Electrotherapy is a medical treatment that uses electrical impulses to reduce pain, stimulate muscles, promote tissue healing, or improve circulation. It is commonly used in physical therapy, rehabilitation, and pain management.
There are several types of electrotherapy, including:
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation):
Used primarily for pain relief by sending low-voltage electrical impulses to stimulate nerves.
NMES (Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation):
Focuses on muscle contraction, often used for muscle strengthening or recovery.
IFC (Interferential Current Therapy):
Combines two high-frequency electrical currents to relieve deep tissue pain.
HVPC (High Voltage Pulsed Current):
Helps with stimulating blood flow.
Electrotherapy works by delivering electrical impulses to specific areas of the body through electrodes placed on the skin. These impulses can help block pain signals, stimulate muscles, improve blood flow, depending on the modality and settings used.
Electrotherapy is commonly used to treat:
Chronic pain (e.g., arthritis, back pain)
Acute injuries (e.g., sprains, strains)
Muscle atrophy or weakness
Neurological conditions (e.g., stroke recovery)
Soft tissue injuries (e.g., tendonitis)
No, electrotherapy is generally not painful. Most patients report feeling a tingling sensation or a mild muscle contraction. The intensity can be adjusted to a comfortable level. If discomfort or pain is experienced, the therapist can modify the settings.
A typical session lasts between 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the treatment area and the condition being treated. Frequency and duration of treatment may vary based on the specific needs of the patient.
Electrotherapy is generally safe when used correctly. Some patients may experience minor skin irritation at the electrode sites. More serious side effects are rare, but it is important to follow the guidance of a healthcare professional to avoid complications.
Yes, many electrotherapy devices, particularly TENS units, are available for home use. These devices are portable, and users can apply them independently with instructions from a healthcare provider.
Some patients experience immediate relief after a session, while others may require multiple treatments to notice significant improvements. The number of sessions needed depends on the condition being treated and the individual's response to therapy.
Electrotherapy can sometimes reduce the need for pain medications, but it should not be seen as a replacement without consulting a healthcare provider. It is often used in conjunction with other treatments such as physical therapy, exercise, or medication for optimal results.
Electrotherapy has shown effectiveness in managing chronic pain conditions, such as osteoarthritis, and chronic back pain.
