Clin/tech 6- Electrical Stim Currents/ifc

Front 1

What is Electrical Stimulating Currents?

Back 1

- Different form/application of NRG
- Penetrates thru skin, mm and effect neurological sys
- Provide P. relief, decrease inflam, and promote healing

Front 2

What are the effects at cellular, tissue, segmental or systemic levels?

Back 2

Cellular:
- Increase movement
- Modulate acute P.
Tissue:
- Increase tissue extensibility
- Re-educates mm
- Modulate acute P.
- Decrease mm atrophy
Segmental:
- Increase movement
- Decrease edema/inflammation
- Modulate P.
Systemic:
- Modulate chronic P.

Front 3

What general effect does electrical stim currents have?

Back 3

- Modulate P. (acute/chronic)
- Increase tissue extensibility
- Decrease edema/inflamm
- Re-educate mm
- Increases movement
- Decrease mm atrophy

Front 4

What are the general precautions of electrical stim currents?

Back 4

Never place electrodes on:
- Temple
- Near eyes
- Mouth
- Front of neck
- Groin
- Altered/decreased sensation areas

Front 5

What are the CI's of electrical stim currents?

Back 5

- Pacemakers
- Infection
- Malignancies
- Pregnancy
- MSK probs where mm contraction would worsen condition

Front 6

What are the indications of electrical stim currents?

Back 6

- Modulating P. (acute/chronic)
- Stimulating denervated mm.
- Mm strengthening
- Increase ROM
- Decreasing mm spasm, gaurding
- Would, fracture, tendon, lig healing
- Stim N. regeneration

Front 7

What are the 3 type sof electroherapeutic currents?

Back 7

- Monophasic or Direct (DC)
- Biphasic or Alternating (AC)
- Pulsatile (PC)

Front 8

What is Monophasic or D

Back 8

- AKA Galvanic current
- Uninterrupted unidirectional flow of electrons toward +ve pole

Front 9

What is Biphasic or Alternating Current (AC)?

Back 9

- Continuous flow of electrons constantly changing direction
- Move from -ve to +ve pole

Front 10

What is Pulsatile (PC)?

Back 10

- 3+ pulses grouped together and may be unidirectional or bidirectional
- Pulses are interrupted for short periods of time and repeat at regular intervals

Front 11

What does IFC stand for?

Back 11

Interferential Current

Front 12

What is the general carrier frequency for IFC?

Back 12

4000Hz

Front 13

What are the principlesof IFC?

Back 13

- Lower stimulation frequency = greater resistance to electric current = more discomfort as current "pushed" into tissues
- Therefore, higher frequency pass easily through skin = reach deeper tissues = less discomfort

Front 14

What does IFC use?

Back 14

- 2 medium freq currents, set up so paths corss, pass thru tissues simultaneously and interfere w/ each other
- Interaction gives rise to inference current/ beat freq which has characteristics of low freq stim

Front 15

What is used to overcome nerve accommodation to constant signal?

Back 15

Frequency sweep- machine set to automatically vary the effective stim frequency using either preset or user set sweep ranges

Front 16

What are the 4 main clinical applications?

Back 16

- P. relief
- Mm stimulation
- Increasing local blood flow
- Reduction of edema

Front 17

What is the difference between having 2 electro-pads and 4 electro-pads?

Back 17

- 4 pole application: interference generated in tissues
- 2 pole application: current is pre-modulated (interference of current is within machine not tissues)