Week 5 Electro Therapy Flashcards
4 Principles of Electricity
- two types of charges + and -
- Like charges repel while opposites attract
- Charges are neither created nor destroyed
- Charges can be transferred from 1 object to another
Cathode=
negatively charged poll
Anode=
Positively charged poll
Voltage =
Force of attraction or repulsion created by an electrical field represents potential energy
- Greater the force the greater the potential energy
Voltage in the body is created by….
uneven distribution of charged particles
If charges are equal on each side of the membrane the will have (blank) voltage
No
Conductors of the body
water/body fluids
nerves
muscle tissue
Insulators of the body
Fat
Current =
The movement of ions/electrons in repones to voltage force
- Ampere
- Milliamperes
Microcurrent
Ohm’s Law
I= V/R
Current= Voltage/resistance
- More resistance to current the less current there will be
Capacitance
Current flowing in an insulated area with high resistance will slow and charge will start to store in that area
Impedance
Resistance to the flow of alternating current
- Clinically gels and adhesives conductive agents help decrease impedance
Areas of high fact act as insulators and will (blank) electrical stimulation trasnmissions
Impede
Waveforms
A depiction of the characteristics that describe a current
Direct Current
- Continuous unidirectional flow of electrons for at least 1 second
Types of direct current= interrupted, reversed, interrupted/reversed
- Clinical considerations= one electrode positive and one electrode negative
-Clinical uses= used less frequently in rehab than other current types, iontophoresis, wound care
Alternating Current
- Uninterrupted bidirectional flow of electrons, must change direction at least once per second
- Frequency= rate AC current changes direct
- Cycles per second= hertz (Hz)
- clinical uses= use of pure sinusoidal AC current is not common
Russian Current
Burst of modulated AC current
Interferential Current
Amplitude modulated AC current
Pulsed Current
Unidirectional or Bidirectional flow of electrons that periodically ceases for a short time period, the interphase/interpulse interval before the next event or pulse
Burst PC
2 or more pulses separated from the next series of pulses
- Burst frequency= frequency bursts are generated
- Carrier Frequency= frequency of underlying waveform
Duty Cycle
on-time/total time (on time + off time) x 100%
Examples:
on time 10 seconds, off time 40 seconds (10:40) duty cycle = 10/10+40 x100% = 20%
Phase charge
Pulse Charge
Charge within a single pulse
What are the 3 commonly used currents that result in a net + or - charge
- direct current
- monophasic pulsed current
- Asymmetrical unbalanced biphasic current
What are the electrothermal effects of electrical current in body tissue?
- As charged particles flow through a conductor friction occurs as they meet resistance and produce kinetic energy which produces heat
T/F there is more of a concern with DC than a concern for AC or pulsed current
True
What are the levels of response to Electrical Stimulation?
1st= sensory- 1st perception of electrical stimulus: stimulation of A-beta sensory fibers in the superficial dermis
2nd= motor- increased electrical stimulus causes A- alpha motor neurons to depolarize and elicit a motor response: motor response proportional to intensity of stimulus : initial motor response may appear ass a muscle twitch or fasciculation
3rd= Noxious- further increase in intensity or duration beyond that capable of eliciting a sensory or motor response stimulates pain receptors - A-delta and C fiber are excited and elicit noxious sensation : sometimes used for therapeutic purpose
Action potentials are……..
All or nothing