W7: ELECTROTHERAPY (MEDIUM FREQUENCY CURRENT) Flashcards
Unit of measurement that indicates volume of electrical current flow.
Ampere (A)
Unit of electrical charge and is defined as the quantity of an electrical charge that can be transferred by 1A in 1 second.
Coulomb (C)
The difference in electrical potential difference between 2 points.
Volt (V)
The force resulting from an accumulation of electrons at one point in an electrical circuit.
Voltage
A pathway allowing free movement of electrons.
Conductors
Is a term that defines the ease with which current flows along a conducting medium and is measured in units called siemens.
Conductance
Materials that resist current flow.
Insulators
The opposition to electron flow in a conducting material.
Electrical Impedance (Resistance)
Are equipment that have the capabilities of taking electrical current flowing from a wall outlet and modify it to produce a therapeutic physiologic effect in human biologic tissue.
Electromodalities
States that the current in an electrical circuit is directly proportional to the voltage and inversely proportional to the resistance.
Ohm’s Law
Screen a visual, graphic representation of the shape, amplitude, direction, polarity, duration, and frequency.
Waveform
What are the 7 treatment parameters in using electromodalities?
Waveform
Current modulation
Intensity
Duration
Frequency
Polarity
Size and placement
True or False: There are 4 types of waverforms which includes sinusoidal, rectangular, triangular, and spiked.
False: Sinusoidal, Rectangular, SQUARE, and Spiked
An individual waveform is referred to as?
Pulse
What are the phases of waveforms?
Direct Current
Alternating Current
Pulse Current
(D.A.P)
Has only a single phase which means that the current only flows in one direction to either the positive or negative pole.
Direct Current
Has two phases, one in which the current flows toward the positive pole and the second phase in which the current flows towards the negative pole.
Alternating Current
Has more than three phases grouped together which can flow either toward the positive or negative pole.
Pulse Current
Reflects to the intensity of the current
Pulse Amplitude
Rate of rise in amplitude or the rise time pulse reaches its maximum amplitude in each phase is called?
Pulse Rate
The time which a pulse goes from peak amplitude to Zero V.
Decay Time
A fiber that has been subjected to a constant level of depolarization will become unexcitable at that same intensity or amplitude
Accommodation Phenomenon
Length of time current is flowing in one cycle
Pulse Duration
Number of pulses or cycles per second
Pulse Frequency
True or False: The higher the amplitude, the greater the current intensity.
True
Recall: Pulse Amplitude - reflects the intensity of the current.
True or False: The effects of electrical current passing through the various tissues of the body may be thermal, chemical, or physiologic
True
All electrical currents cause a rise in temperature in a conducting tissue
Give at least 2 indication for EC:
→ To activate skeletal muscle for improving performance or strengthening
→ To attenuate or alleviate pain
→ To improve blood flow, to decrease or control edema
→ To facilitate tissue healing
Give at least 3 LOCAL Contraindications for EC:
→Pregnancy
→Damaged skin
→Pacemaker/implants
→Malignancy
→Impaired sensation
Give at least 3 GENERAL Contraindications for EC:
→Carotid sinus
→Impaired sinus
→Hemorrhage
→Thrombosis/thrombophlebitis
→Eyes/ internal parts/ reproductive organs
Give at least 3 Precautions for EC:
→ Cardiac disease
→ Impaired mentation
→ Reduced sensation
→ ** malignant rumors
→ Areas of skin irritation or open wounds
→ Undiagnosed pain
→ Active epiphysis
True or False: Electrical current can cause burns.
True
One active electrode is placed over the target area, and a larger dispersive electrode is placed at a distant site; often used for trigger point therapy or deep tissue stimulation.
Common use: Pain modulation, iontophoresis, tissue healing
Monopolar
Uses two sets of bipolar electrodes, each of which comes from a completely separate channel on the electrical stimulator.
Common use: Pain modulation
Quadripolar
This involves placing two electrodes over the target area. It’s commonly used for smaller muscle groups or localized pain
Common use: Muscle activation, pain modulation
Bipolar
What are devices that generate electrotherapeutic currents?
TENS
NMES
EMS
Device used to stimulate peripheral nerves
TENS
Terms used when electric current is being used to stimulate muscle directly as would be the case with denervated muscle where peripheral nerves are not functioning
NMES / EMS
Label of Frequency that deliver between one and several thousand pulse per second
Low Frequency
Greater that 10,000 pulse per second
High Frequency
Have frequencies of 1000 pps to as high as 10,000 pps
Medium Frequency
Is produced by the interference of two medium frequency ACs with slightly different frequencies
Interferential Current
Interferential Current: Lesser frequency of the two currents interfered is called?
Carrier Frequency
Interferential Current: Frequency the interfered currents are maximally in and out of synch is called?
Beat Frequency
Also known as “Low-Intensity Direct Current”, low-volt pulsed current, micro electrical neuromuscular stimulator, or micro electrical stimulation.
Microcurrent
Are based on pain modulation through the situation of sensory and motor nerves; selective stimulation of the large A-beta fibers for gating pain.
TENS
Theory asserted that selective stimulation of the large-diameter afferent A-beta sensory fibers can result in gatin, or blocking, of noxious afferent input from smaller-diameter unmyelinated nociceptive C fibers and small myelinated A-delta fibers at the level of the spinal cord.
Gate Control Theory
What are the 4 types of TENS?
→ High Frequency / Conventional
→ Acupuncture
→ Brief Intense
→ Hyperstimulation
Type of TENS that is well suited for selective stimulation of the large A-beta fibers for gating pain.
SENSATION: tingling or buzzing
High Frequency / Conventional TENS
Type of TENS that elicits a motor response and its intensity should elicit a strong visible motor response, which is often seen as robust twitches corresponding to the frequency.
PXs SENSATION: obvious muscle twitching and may be associated with prickling and stinging
Acupunture TENS
Type of TENS that combines both high and low frequency TENS and is applied similarly in periodic and brief applications, not greater then 15 mins-for high intensity pain (common example: giving birth).
SENSATION: tingling or buzzing
Brief Intense TENS
Type of TENS that is often applied over acupuncture points or dermatomal distributions of peripheral nerve but not over areas of motor nerve where a strong motor response would be elicited and also work via descending opiate–mediated electroanalgesia.
PXs SENSATION: obvious muscle twitching and may be associated with prickling and stinging
Hyperstimulation TENS
TENS stands for?
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
