Low Voltage Alternating Current (Sine/Biphasic)

Question 1

Indications

Answer 1

• Pain
• Edema (chronic - muscle pump or surge)
• Hypertonicity, spasm
• Strengthening, muscle re-education
• Tissue healing (sensory level: cellular; motor level: twitch or surge)

Question 2

Contraindications

Answer 2

• Through the brain
• Over carotid sinus
• Pregnancy
• Mental impairment
• Over the eyes
• Hemorrhage, infection, malignancy (HIM)
• Pacemaker
• Through the heart
• Circulatory impairment
• Sensory impairment

Question 3

Physiological Affects

Answer 3

• Increases cell activity and metabolism (promote tissue healing)
• Mechanical movement changes microvasculature (reduce edema)

Question 4

Protocol

Answer 4

Pads

• One pad over motor point of muscle
• Other pad over distal muscle belly or over nerve root innervation of muscle
• Equal sizes

Time
- 15 - 20 minutes

Tetanize
- Muscle hypertonicity

Surge
- Exercise or edema (40 - 60 pps)

Pulse
- Edema (twitch 5 - 10 pps)

Reciprocal
- 2 channels: antagonists or bilateral (exercise or joint pump)