Electrotherapy uses electrical energy to promote healing, repair tissue and reduce pain. In physiotherapy, this includes interferential, TENS and pulsed shortwave therapy.
Electrotherapy is used world-wide as a form of treatment for soft tissue injuries such as ligament tears and tendinopathies. Whilst there is very little evidence from research projects to support it’s use, clinical evidence and the experiences of hundreds of thousands of therapists and patients demonstrate that it can be effective.
The aims of most forms of electrotherapy include:
Increasing blood flow to the injured area, which promotes healing.
Reducing inflammation.
Decrease in pain.
Break down of scar tissue and adhesions.
Contraindications
As with many forms of medical treatment, there are certain circumstances when electrotherapy should not be used. These include:
In the acute stage of an injury, where there may still be bleeding.
Over metal pins, plates etc.
On cancerous tissue.
Over infected tissue.
Over sensitive areas (such as the testicles)
On the chest of patients with pacemakers.
Over the back or abdomen of pregnant women.
