ELECTROTHERAPY, electrophysical modalities....

Electrotherapy is an ever-advancing field. The use of electricity for therapeutic purposes has grown up in recent years and now includes a wide variety of apparatus and equipment. A large number of therapeutic modalities for treating several disorders are now in use.

ELECTROTHERAPY

Electrotherapy is the treatment of various ailments by electrophysical modalities which include low frequency, medium frequency, high frequency currents, Actinotherapy and Heliotherapy.

Actinotherapy

The Greek word Actis means ‘a ray’ and the treatment by rays is called ‘Actinotherapy’ (using lamp as the source of light).

Infrared Radiations

Infrared rays are electromagnetic waves with wavelengths of 750 to 4,00,000 nm. Any hot body emits infrared rays. For example the sun, gas fires, coal fires, electric fires, hot water, etc.

Ultraviolet Radiations

UV radiation is electromagnetic waves which is invisible to the human eye with a wavelength between 10 to 400 nm, ultraviolet lies between visible light and X-rays in the electromagnetic spectrum.

LASER

LASER is light amplification of stimulated emission of radiations. Laser rays are electromagnetic radiations. These are single-colored (mono—single, chromatic—colored).

Paraffin Wax Bath Therapy

Paraffin wax bath therapy is an application of molten paraffin wax on the body parts. The temperature of the paraffin wax is maintained at 40-44ºC, whereas its melting point is 51-55ºC.

Hot Packs/Hydrocollator Packs

Hot packs are the packs which are immersed in an apparatus called hydrocollator. They provide superficial moist heat to the part where applied. They contain substances which absorb heat like silica or gel. They are stored in a thermostatically controlled water bath inside the equipment. The temperature inside the hydrocollator ranges between 65-80ºC. The aim of the hydrocollator pack is to raise the body temperature to 40-45ºC.

Electric Heating Pads

Electric heating pads are used to provide a raised temperature of 40-45°C to the body parts. It contains an electric heating element inside it and is regulated by a variable resistor or rheostat. They provide superficial heat to the part where applied. The transmission of heat is by means of conduction. The main advantage of using electric heating pads is that they can be used at home by the patients themselves and are cheaper and flexible.

Heliotherapy

Helio means sun and therapy means treatment. The use of natural sunlight for therapeutic purposes is better known as Heliotherapy.

HYDROTHERAPY

Hydrotherapy refers to the therapeutic use of water as contrast bath, whirlpool bath and pool therapy.

LOW FREQUENCY CURRENT (25-100 Hz)

• Faradic current

• Galvanic current

• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

MEDIUM FREQUENCY CURRENT (100 to 1 MHz)

• Interferential therapy (IFT)

• Russian currents

HIGH FREQUENCY CURRENT (MORE THAN 1 MHz)

• Short wave diathermy

• Microwave diathermy

ULTRASOUND THERAPY

Ultrasound therapy is the therapeutic use of inaudible sound waves of very high frequency, i.e. above 20 × 103 Hz. Therapeutically used frequencies lie between 0.8 to 3 MHz and wavelengths of approximately 0.2 nm.