ELECTROTHERAPY

 

Ultrasound

 

There are three primary benefits to ultrasound.

1. The speeding up of the healing process from the increase in blood flow in the treated area.

2. The decrease in pain from the reduction of swelling and edema.

3. The gentle massage of muscles tendons and/ or ligaments in the treated area because no strain is added and any scar tissue is softened.

 

These three benefits are achieved by two main effects of therapeutic ultrasound. The two types of effects are: thermal and non thermal effects. Thermal effects are due to the absorption of the sound waves. Non thermal effects are effects which result from the vibration of the tissue as the ultrasonic waves pass through them. These vibrations are transmitted in a way that directly stimulates cell membranes which make up the soft tissue. This physical stimulation appears to enhance the cell-repair effects of the inflammatory response. Studies have proven that Ultrasound helps in enhancing the metabolic activities of cells, and thus, in tissue repair, especially in soft tissue injuries.

 

 

TENS

 

TENS is a non-invasive, low-risk nerve stimulation intended to reduce pain, both acute and chronic.

 

There are two main methods that a TENS machine uses to provide you with pain relief: Pain Gating & Endorphin Release.

 

Pain Gating

A TENS machine produces millions of tiny electrical impulses, which enter your body via electrodes placed on the skin near or over the painful region. These fast electrical impulses override the slower pain impulses and travel quickly along your nerves to your spinal cord and up to your brain. Your brain is immediately bombarded by millions of pleasant electrical impulses. Your pain signals continue to be sent to your brain but travel along much slower (smaller diameter) nerve fibres. Since your brain can only interpret a limited amount of information, the pain signals are easily outnumbered by the pleasant high-speed TENS stimulation.

 

Endorphin Release

The Pain Gate can also be shut by stimulating the release of endogenous opioids (endorphins, enkephalins, and dynorphins), which are pain-relieving chemicals naturally released by the body in response to pain stimuli. Opioids are a naturally occurring hormone in the body. They are released in response to an injury or physical stress to reduce your pain and promote a feeling of wellbeing. Much like Morphine, and related medications, your opioids have a similar chemical structure, which explains their strong painkilling effects. TENS machines stimulate the release of these endogenous opioids. The opioids then inhibit the transmission of pain signals in the substantia gelatinosa part of the spinal cord - what is often referred to as the spinal root part of the nerve.

 

 

Interferentail Therapy

 

Interferential current therapy is an effective therapy used to relieve pain and accelerate the self-healing process, getting your body back to a healthy, pain-free state. The high frequency signals of an IFC penetrate through the skin into deeper lying muscle tissues. The Interferential Current device transmits electrical impulses in minute quantities through your skin. Underlying tissue and nerves are stimulated which begins the healing properties. Frequencies produced by the IFC have been proven to stimulate endorphins, the body's natural pain killers. This can help to create a self-healing process without the need to for medications. This form of therapy is also extremely useful in reducing pain, inflammation, curing oedema, and spasms.