Electrical Stimulation For Pain Relief - Modalities (Lecture 1) Flashcards

1
Q

In the picture below name what 1 and 2 are. What is 3

What is the net charge / polarity

A

1 = phase (just one little one)

2 = pulse (the two of them going back and forth)

3 = peak amplitude
* can have peak amplitude in the positive or negative direction

Because they’re equal the net charge or polarity is 0

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2
Q

What is the thing between the phases

A

Intra pulse duration

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3
Q

What is 5? what about 6

A

5 = inter pulse duration

6 = intra pulse duration

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4
Q

What is a sinusoidal wave?

A

Wave the oscillates up and down or side to side

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5
Q

Is this alternating or direct current?

A

Alternating (going back and forth from positive to negative)

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6
Q

Is this Aussia or russian?

A

Russian

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7
Q

What is the gap that the arrow pointing to called?

A

Interpulse duration

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8
Q

Is this high or low frequency? Why?

A

Low because of the large inter pulse duration

However, it makes up for this by having a high amplitude

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9
Q

What is this kind of pulse called?

On our modalities quiz there are going to be pictures like this that we have to identitfy what kind of current it is

A

High voltage pulse current

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10
Q

When current 1 and current 2 crisscross what kind of current is this called?

A

Interferintial current

IFC

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11
Q

Brust frequency

A

How often bursts happen

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12
Q

Carrier frequency

A

How frequent the pulses are within the burst

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13
Q

What are the 3 pain types?

A

Acute: when tissue damage first occurs this is the bodies way of letting us know

Chronic: inflammatory process thtas triggered by the acute process is now over. If that pain presists that can lead to sentiziation of neural pathways (keep it lit up)

Referred

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14
Q

Old reffered pain theory

A

Tissues utero (neural tube) are close and for some reason are linked that way

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15
Q

Explain covergence theroy of reffered pain

A

Cutaneous, visceral, skeletal muscle tissue all converge togerther on a common nerve root –> dorsal horn.

Sometimes the messaging gets coonfused on where the pain is coming from

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16
Q

Does the peripheral pain pathway have a high or low threshold for activation. What does this mean?

A

high threshold for activation - this means that it needs a large stimulus to activate it

“If I poke you it wont hurt you - you need lots of input”

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17
Q

The peripheral pain pathyway has a high threshold for activation. What can lower this threshold?

A

If theres already inflammation that threshold can be lowered (takes less to bring on pain)
* think hitting your toe a second time after its already been stubbed and theres inflammation in there

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18
Q

KNOW: 3 pain pathways:
* Peripheral pain pathywa
* C-fibers
* A-delta fibers

A
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19
Q

What kind of pain comes from C-fibers?

A

Dull achy pain, burning, long lasting

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20
Q

Do C-fibers hvae a high or low threshold? Do they have a Low or high conduction velocity?

Does this activation come more w/ acute or chronic pain

A

High threshold for activation (takes a lot)

Low conduction velocity
* this is why its that dull achy pain - longer lasting

Comes on more w/ chronic pain (turns into that dull toothyachy pain - makes sense)

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21
Q

Do A-delta fibers have a high or low threshold for activation? How fast is their conduction velocity?

What is the pain like with these?

A

High threshold (takes a lot)

Fast conduction velocity

Pain = sharp, stabbing, shooting pain
* make your body quickly on red alert

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22
Q

What is out central pain pathway?

A

A delta and C fibers –> interneurons –> second order neurons in the dorsal horn –> then goes up

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23
Q

What are the two kinds of second order neurons and what do they do?
* which ones can tell us about more than just pain?

A

High threshold second order neurons:
* Recives input from peripheral nociceptors only
* These are the ones that say “hey, somethings been injuired, somethings not right - we go pain

Wide-dynamic range
* input from peripheral nociceptors AND non-nociceptors
* They give us the general feeling of that area, since they have nociceptors and non-nociceptors they can tell us about more than just pain (can do temperature sensation as well)

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24
Q

What is considered the main pain pathy in the body?

A

Spinothalamic tract

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25
Q

TENS = Transcutaenous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
* Used for pain modulation (not trying to move muscles)

NMES neuromuscular electrical stimulation is for muscle activation / strengthening
* Neuromuscular electrical stimulation
* Both are transcutaneous

A
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26
Q

Inital theories of how the TENs mechanism worked were based on the gate control theory. What is the gait contorl theory?

What is the current theory on the TENs mechanism?

A

Large afferent nerve input blocked smaller diameter nociceptive input (which blocked those pain signals)

Current = Activation of opioid receptors in both PNS and CNS

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27
Q

Does TENS have one waveform / type of current?

A

Nope

TENS could be IFC / alternating current / direct current etc..

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28
Q

Which waveform is this?

A

Symmetrical biphasic pulsed current

29
Q

Which waveform is this?

A

Asymmetrical biphasic balanced pulsed current

30
Q

Which has no charge, symmetrical biphasic or asymmetrical biphasic current?

A

Symmetrical

31
Q

What is pulse duration? Units?

A

How long each pulse lasts

usec = units

32
Q

What is the amplitude/intensity of a pulse?

A

How big the pulse is at its highest point

NOTE: This should be at the highest comfortable paresthesia

33
Q

KNOW: if we increase the pulse duration this will increase the amount of current being delivered to the pt

A
34
Q

What is pulse frequency?

A

How often a pulse happens (not phase but the actual pulses)

35
Q

what do we want the pts to report (pain wise) w/ TENS

A

highest comfertable parathesia (comfertable tingling)
* not completely numb

36
Q

Why would a Burst / modulated TENS work better for sensory habituation?

A

Think about putting on clothing. You can feel it at first but then you stop feeling it. Same thing goes here. With continuous its the same thing all day but with the other 2 its being changed up over time which restimulates you over and over

37
Q

Why might a pt wearing tens all day (continuous) say it works better at the start of the day but they can’t even feel it at the end of the day?

A

Sensory habituation

38
Q

What is a modulated current?

A

When the amplitude if changed of the pulses throughout the cycle to prevent sensory habituation

39
Q

What are the 4 main modes of TENS? whats mot common? Which one provides a noxious stimuli (uncomfertable)

A

1) Conventional (most common)
2) Burst Train
3) Acupuncture Like
4) Brief Intense (uncomfertable)

40
Q

What is high frequency low intensity TENS? (short pulse duration)

A

Conventional

41
Q

What is the frequency for conventional pulse?

what are the units for frequency?

A

80-110 Hz

42
Q

What is the pulse duration for concentional TENS? Units?

A

50-100 usec (microsec)

43
Q

Does conventional TENs target A or C afferent fibers?

A

Targets A-beta fibers

NOTE: We want it to be a comfertable parasthesia

44
Q

What gets stimulated first. Sensory or motor nerves? Why?

A

Motor

because they’re bigger

45
Q

Order of stimulation:

Motor fibers –> Sensory fibers (A-beta) –> C fiberbs –> nociceptive fibers (A-delta)

KNOW: bigger fibers are stimulated first

A
46
Q

Why might we use a Burst Instead of a Concentional TENS for sensory habituation?

A

A burst has the same frequency and distance strength as a conventional except it has a large inter pulse duration. So this will constanitly re remind your body that you’re wearing it

47
Q

Burst frequency

A

100Hz

48
Q

Pulse duration for Burst

A

200 microseconds usec

49
Q
A
50
Q

Whats the point of acupuncture like TENS

A

eleicit a motor response

51
Q

What is this

A

Conventional tens

52
Q

What is this

A

Burst TENS

53
Q

What is this

A

Acupuncture like

54
Q

What is this?

A

Brief intens TENSE

highest tolerable

it is continuous

55
Q

Why is the treatment time on Brief intens TENS low?

A

Because it is continuous

56
Q

In conventional TENS whats the mechanism for why it works?

A

Increased B-endorphine in bloodstream and CSF

Increase endogenous opioids in CSF

Animals:
* Release of GABBA
* Reduces substance P
* Opoid receptor activation in dorsal horn

57
Q

Which gets a depper area - large electrodes or small electores?

A

Large get a deeper, broad area

Small ones get a more superficial specific area

KNOW: If I want to deliver a lot of current I would use a larger one to decrease the current in a select area

58
Q

Treatment time for TENS?

A

</ 30 minutes

59
Q

All TENS units require 2 electrodes EXCEPT

A

IFC

60
Q

KNOW: polarity will determine specific placement of the 2 electordes (maybe want the negative over the treatment side so we would place the other one away from it)

A
61
Q

Clinical procedure:
* Position pt to allow access to treatment area: NOTE: They don’t have to stay in this position for the entire treatment - CAN DO EX WHILE USING TENS
* Clean the skin of treatment area w/ soap and water to remove oils, lotions, sweat, etc. (shave area if needed)
* Inspect skin for discoloration / open wounds / skin conditions
* Connect lead wires to the TENS stimulator and then to electrodes
* Peel electrodes from backing and place on patient in appropriate area (avoid pulling end of electrode w/ wire)
* Set parameteres - Duration / pulse frequency (Hz) / Pulse duration (usec) / waveform
* Turn on unit w/ minimal to no amplitude
* Slowly increase amplitude (mA) until pt reports inital onset of tingling/paresthesia
* Contine to increase amplitude until pt feels strong, but comfortable sensation
* When treatment time has ended, reduce amplitude to as low as possible or off, THEN turn off unit
* Remove electrodes, evalute skin and pt response (pain intensity, quality, location - have other things changed?)

A
62
Q

I also have Lisas video

A
63
Q

How many medium frequency currents does Interferential Current (IFC) yield?
* Carrier Frequency
* Beat frequency

A

2

these are alternating current

Yields a single current with modulated amplitude

thought to be more tolerable by pt

Carrier frequency (each individual current) = 2 kHz

Beat Frequency = frequency at which each beat occurs (each time that peak amplitude occurs) 100Hz

KNOW: Treatment area tends to be larger

64
Q

Treatment time for IFC?

A

15 minutes (10-20)

65
Q

Are there differences for sweep patterns on IFC?

A

No

66
Q

Precaustions for TENS:

A

Pain of unknown origin

Active / open epiphysis (<22)

Titanimum and most orthopedic implants are nonconductive to electricity and it is OK to place electrodes in this area (UNLESS NOT FROM US)

Adhesive allergy
* Consider changing to gelled carbon electrode

Probs know 3

67
Q

Contraindications for ESTEM

A

Local application of e stim in arae are of:
* Pacemaker (chest region L>R) - Cervical, lumbar, LE, and distal UE have been shown to be OK, still clear w/ cardiologist first
* Pregnancy (lumbosacral, abdominal regions)
* Carotid sinus
* Damaged skin
* lack of sensation
* Malignant tumors
* Eyes internally, or repductive organs

Poor cognitiion, initability to communicate (can’t say if theres pain)

Thrombosis / thrombophlebitits (inflammation due to thrombosis) - really any bleeding conition

Hemorrhage

Probs know 3

68
Q

Documentation:
* Mode of TENS - conventional, acupuncture, burst train, brief intense
* Waveform type - Biphasic, monophasic, BMAC, etc
* Waveform parameters - pulse duration, frequency, intensity
* IF IFc utilized - sweep, vector scan / carrier frequency / beat frequency
* Level of stimulation - sensory, motor, noxious
* Electrode - type, shape, size, and number, placement/location, skin inspection findings prior and after
* Pt position
* Treatment duration - number of conttractions / duration

If a therapist was reading this, could they replicate it?

A