Q: What is the advantage of electrotherapy over other forms of treatment for these conditions?

JR: The main advantage is that no heat is produced. If there is inflammation present, electrotherapy can be applied to relieve pain and spasm, without exacerbating the inflammation or swelling. The devices that are used for electrical stimulation are relatively inexpensive. Patients tolerate electrotherapy well.

JH: Results may be more rapid and longer lasting. It allows the practitioner to treat several patients at the same time. Future high-quality double-blind, controlled trials are needed to further study the effectiveness of electro-acupuncture protocols as compared to alternate or standard forms of treatment.

Resources

1. Bélanger A. Therapeutic Electrophysical Agents: Evidence Behind Practice. Williams and Wilkins, 2010.
2. Cohn JC, Mullin C. Neuromuscular applications for electrical stimulation. In: Physical Agents for the Physical Therapist Assistant. FA Davis Company, 1996.
3. Gillespie C. Foundations for electrical stimulation. In: Physical Agents for the Physical Therapist Assistant. FA Davis Company, 1996.
4. Hooper PD. Physical Modalities-A Primer for Chiropractic. Williams & Wilkins, 1996
5. Knight KL, Draper DO. Electrotherapy from Therapeutic Modalities: The Art and Science. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008.
6. Mehreteab TA, Weisberg J, Nelson A. Electrotherapy. In: Physical Agents: A Comprehensive Text for Physical Therapists, Appleton & Lange, 1994.
7. Prentice W. Therapeutic Modalities: For Sports Medicine and Athletic Training. McGraw Hill, 2008.
8. Shapiro S. Electrical currents. Rehabilitation: From Research to Practice. Elsevier, 2008.
9. Sparrow KJ. Electrotherapeutic modalities: electrotherapy and iontophoresis. In: Modalities for Therapeutic Intervention (Contemporary Perspectives in Rehabilitation). FA Davis Company, 2005.
10. Starkey C. Electrical agents. In: Therapeutic Modalities. FA Davis Company, 1999.
11. Stillwell GK. Electrotherapy. In: Krusen's Handbook of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. WB Saunders, 1982.

---

What Can Electrotherapy Treat?

The application of pulsating electric currents to the body via electrodes elicits responses from nerves, which conduct pain-sensation and muscle-contraction information. Stimulation of sensory fibers will help block pain, while stimulation of motor fibers will generate pulsatile contractions of the muscle groups innervated by the nerves being stimulated. As such, here are some indications for electrotherapy treatment:

FDA indications for electrotherapy

• Symptomatic relief of chronic intractable pain, acute post-traumatic pain or acute post-surgical pain.
• Temporary relaxation of muscle spasm
• Prevention of post-surgical phlebothrombosis through immediate stimulation of calf muscles
• Increase of blood flow in the treatment area
• Prevention or retardation of disuse atrophy in post-injury conditions
• Muscle re-education
• Maintaining or increasing range of motion

Off-label uses

• Edema reduction
• Inflammation reduction
• Tissue healing
• Increasing muscle strength and tone