Chp 11 Glossary Terms Flashcards
Anode
the positive electrode
Cathode
the negative electrode
Charge
basic properties of matter, noted as Q and is measured in Coulombs (C)
Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS)
application of an electrical directly to muscle to produce a muscle contraction
Functional electrical stimulation (FES)
application of an electrical current to produce mm contractions that are applied during a functional activity.
Gate control theory
theory of pain control and modulation stating that pain is modulated at the spinal cord level by inhibitory effects of nonnoxious afferent input
Impedance
total frequency-dependent opposition to current flow. noted by Z and is measured in Ohms
Iontophoresis
delivery of ions through the skin for therapeutic purposes using an electrical current
Motor point
place in the mm where electrical stimulation will produce the greatest contraction with the last amount of electricity, generally located over the middle of a mm belly
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)
application of an electrical current to motor nerves to porduce contractions of the muscles they innervate
Ohm’s law
mathematical expression of how voltage, current, and resistance relate, where voltage equals current multiplied by resistance V=IR
Phase in pulsed current
the period from when current starts to flow in one direction to when it stops flowing or starts to flow in the other direction
Phase in biphasic pulsed current
made up of two phases; the first phase begins when current starts to flow in the other direction and ends when the current starts to flow in the other direction, which is also the beginning of the second phase. the second phase ends when current stops flowing
Polarity
the charge of an electrode that will be positive (the anode) or negative (the cathode) with a direct or monophasic pulsed current and is constantly changing with an alternating or biphasic pulsed current
Pulse
in pulsed current, the period when current is flowing in any direction
Resistance
opposition of a material to the flow of electrical current. resistance is noted a R and is measured in Ohms
Voltage
(aka potential difference) force or pressure of electricity. energy between two points that produces the electrical force capable of moving charged particles through a conductor between those two points. noted as V, measured in volts (V)
Alternating current (AC)
continuous bidirectional flow of charged particles, has equal ion flow in each direction, and thus no pulse charge remains in the tissures.
Biphasic Pulsed Current
a series of pulses wherein the charged particles move in one direction and then in the opposite direction
Continuous Current
a continuous flow of charged particles without interruptions or breaks
Direct Current (DC)
a continuous unidirectional flow of charged particles
Interferential Current (IFC)
current is waveform produced by the interference of two medium frequency sinusoidal AC’s of slightly different frequencies. Two sets of electrodes and delivered through two channels in the same stimulator
Medium Frequency AC
an AC with a frequency between 1000-10,000 Hz or 2500 - 5000 Hz.
- is rarely used alone therapeutically,
- two medium-frequency AC’s of different frequency may be applied together to produce an interferential current