INTERFERENTIAL STIMULATION (E-STIM)
Goals for electrotherapy treatment include:
- Pain relief.
- Decreased edema (swelling).
- Decrease muscle spasm.
- Increased tissue healing and circulation.
- Muscle reeducation.
- Increased range of motion.
Electrotherapy modalities such as Interferential Current have many physiological effects.
- Thermal effect: Heat is developed in all forms of currents.
- Chemical effects: Leads to ionic changes in tissues
- Kinetic effects: Therapeutic muscle stimulation to produce contraction.
- Excitable tissues: Nerves, muscles and glands.
Systemic level
- Analgesic effect (endorphins, enkephalins, dopamines, dymorphins).
- Modulation of visceral activity.
Segmental level
- Muscle group contraction with effects on joint mobility, synergistic muscle activity.
- Muscle pumping action affects macrocirculation.
- Changes in macrocirculation not associated with skeletal muscle contraction.
Tissue level
- Skeletal muscle contractions leads to changes in speed, strength, reaction time and fatigability.
- Smooth muscle contraction/relaxation yields changes in blood flow.
- Tissue regeneration and remodeling.
Cellular level
- Excitation of peripheral nerves.
- Changes of membrane permeability of non-excitatory cells.
- Alterations in cellular metabolism.
- Alterations in microcirculation.
Information source: Physical Assessment by Dr. Nikita A. Vizniak
