Week 1- Electrotherapy

Question 1

3 different types of currents

Answer 1

1. Direct current (one direction)
2. Alternating current (continuous, back and forth)
3. Pulsed current (stop and go, one direction, two directions)

Question 2

Alternating Current (AC)

Answer 2

uninterrupted BIDIRECTIONAL FLOW of charged electrons or ions that must change direction AT LEAST ONE TIME PER SECOND.

Question 3

Pulsed Current (PC)

Answer 3

• also called PULSATILE CURRENT

- UNI or BIDIRECTIONAL FLOW of ions or electrons that ceases for a length of time until the next event (pulse)

Question 4

Direct Current (DC)

Answer 4

the CONTINUOUS UNIDIRECTIONAL flow of electrons or ions for AT LEAST 1 second

<1= pulse

Question 5

Pulse Duration (Electrical current parameters)

Answer 5

AKA PULSE WIDTH

period of time from the beginning of a pulse to the end of that pulse

measured in usec (microseconds)

pulse width many stimulators use PULSE WIDTH to refer to pulse duration. (longer than phase duration)

Question 6

Phase Duration (Electrical current parameters)

Answer 6

period of time from the beginning of a phase to the end of that phase of a pulse.

usually measured in microseconds (usec)

Question 7

Frequency (aka RATE)

• definition
• measured in

Answer 7

The number of pulses or cycles in one second.

Measured in PPS or Hz

Question 8

Amplitude (aka INTENSITY)

• definition
• measured in

Answer 8

The magnitude of the current of voltage in reference to the isoelectric line (zero)

usually measured in units of current in mA (milliamps), most used in modalities, or VOLTS

Question 9

ON-time/OFF-time, Duty Cycle

Answer 9

On time: duration where a series pulses and bursts are being delivered (seconds)

Off time: duration between those series of pulses and bursts (seconds)

Duty cycle: % of on-time to the total time (on time + off time) x 100%

Question 10

Modulation

Answer 10

The variation of the stimulation parameters.

Limits NEURAL ADAPTATION to electrical current.

(modulated amplitude, frequency, duration)

Question 11

Monopolar Electrode Configuration

Answer 11

Single circuit where one electrode (TREATMENT OR ACTIVE ELECTRODE) is placed on the treatment area, while the other electrode is placed in an area where therapeutic effect is NOT desired.

Question 12

Bipolar Electrode Configuration

Answer 12

-on or near tx. area

Electrodes of a SINGLE circuit, usually the same size, placed over treatment area.

Question 13

Quadripolar Technique/Configuration

Answer 13

Two sets of bipolar electrodes, each comes from a completely separate channel

Electrodes are placed so that the currents are interfered.

Question 14

Resistance to current flow

Answer 14

Skin, hair, fascia, ligament, callus, fat, bone, tendon, scar

Question 15

Ohm’s law

Answer 15

I=V/R

I: current: amps
V: volts: volts
R: resistance: ohms