introduction to ET Flashcards
negatively charged particle
anode
positively charged particle
cathode
atoms or molecules that has lost or gained electron
ion
ionization
a process by which an atom acquires negative or positive charge
conductors in human body
muscle
nerves
bodily fluid
uses of electrotherapy
decrease pain
increase ROM
improve tissue healing
improve muscle activation
why we use electric currents
because of,
magnetic
chemical
mechanical and
thermal effects
aims of electrotherapy
muscle contraction
iontophoresis
treatment of pain
providing deep heating
medical galvanism
current types in electrotherapy
direct current
alternating current
pulsed current
PAD
DC
Direct current
=continuously in one direction
=there is risk of chemical burns
= uses iontophoresis
=denervated muscle stimulation
AC
alternating current
= changes direction continuously
= different waveforms are available
=ex Russian premodulated and interferential
=uses afferent and efferent stimulation of nerve
PC
Pulsed current
= current changes direction continually and there is intermittent interval
=microcurrent high volt as eg
= used for afferent and efferent stimulation of nerves
=different waveforms are available
diffusion patterns in electric current in PC and AC
sinusoidal
triangular
rectangular
squared
spiked
waveforms in AC and PC
monophasic
biphasic
polyphasic
variables parameters for AC and PC
frequency
current intensity/amplitude
duration= pulsed [pc]
= cycle [ac]
= phase [pc and ac]
membrane resting potential
electrical potential different btn inside and outside the cell = -70mV
how muscle contraction is achieved
by ignition of muscle fibers via motor nerves
ways of increasing muscle fibers ignition
- spatial recruitment/ application area dependent ignition
- temporal recruitment/ timed ignition
spatial recruitment
=the more challenging the workout the more muscle fibers involvements
=this is only possible by increasing CURRENT INTENSITY
=ONLY working muscle fibers develop
temporal recruitment
adjusted with only FREQUENCY
high intensity, low frequency
Extremely light muscle work in a large area
low intensity, high frequency
strong muscle work in a limited
indications of et
pain control
enhance muscle recruitments
retard muscle atrophy
muscle strengthening
edema management
contraindication of ET
cardiac pacemaker
seizure prone patients
neoplasm
pain of unknown etiology
transcerebral stimulation
fibers responsible for acute pain
A delta fiber
fibers responsible for chronic pain
C delta fiber
when tissue is damaged what is secreted from the tissue
bradykinin
substance p
prostaglandins
histamine
what does the chemical mediators secreted do
activate nociceptive nerve terminals
initiate the inflammatory response
hyperalgesia
increase in sensitivity
pain theories
specificity theory
pattern theory
gate control theory
specificity theory
pain is purely physiological
we have sensory system specifically for pain
pattern theory
when impulse enters spinal cord, can be summarized as stimulus must accumulate for onset of pain sensation
gate control theory
based on principle of increasing or decreasing painful stimuli
minimal sensory impulse=high pain
impulses equivalent or dominant to pain = pain reduced
how gate theory works
Pain stimulation is carried by small, slow fibers that enter the dorsal horn of the spinal cord: then T-cells transmit the impulses from the spinal cord up to the
brain.
* T-cells can be located in a specific area of the
spinal cord, known as the substantial gelatinosa
(SG).
* They can inhibit the communication of stimulation,
in other cases, they can allow stimulation to be
communicated into the central nervous system.
* Large fibers can prohibit the impulses from
the small fibers from ever communicating with
the brain
* The large fibers create a hypothetical “gate” that can open or close the system to pain stimulation
factors influencing opening and closing of the gate
The amount of activity in the pain fibers.
The amount of activity in other peripheral fibers
Messages descend from the brain.
endorphinic effects
- Pain relief
– Decrease in anxiety
– Feeling good
