How Electrotherapy Helps Relieve Back Pain?

Electrotherapy uses the stimulation of a low level of electrical current to end back pain and speed up healing.

Recent scientific studies have proven that electricity can reduce both acute and chronic pain

Some of the more common treatments include:

Several different electrical stimulation devices exist, each producing different frequencies, waveforms, and effects. Electrical modalities include

• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) (the most commonly used)
• Interferential Current (IFC)
• Galvanic Stimulation (GS)

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS):

TENS unit can be used by patient at home for relieving pain on a long term basis.

• It allows the user to adjust the intensity of the stimulation, select high frequency stimulation or low frequency stimulation.
• High frequency stimulation is called conventional which is tolerable for hours but results in pain relief for shorter period of time. Whereas, low frequency stimulation is called acupuncture, which is uncomfortable and tolerable for 20 to 30 minutes but results in pain relief for longer period of time.

TENS unit users can also use electrode placements by placing the electrodes over the painful area or over the nerve supplying the painful area or even on the opposite side of the body.

Interferential current:

Interferential current is mainly a form of TENS.

• It modulates a high frequency carrier waveform with the same signal as produced by a TENS unit
• This high frequency waveform penetrates the skin more deeply than a regular TENS unit, with less user discomfort for a given level of stimulation.
• It is useful for those patients who have not got relief from TENS unit

However, interferential current devices are more expensive than the TENS unit.

Galvanic stimulation (GS)

Galvanic stimulation is most useful in acute injuries associated with major tissue trauma with bleeding or swelling.

• In contrast to TENS and IFC units, which apply alternating current, galvanic stimulators apply direct current.
• Direct current creates an electrical field over the treated area that, theoretically, changes blood flow.
• The positive pad behaves like ice, causing reduced circulation to the area under the pad and reduction in swelling.
• The negative pad behaves like heat, causing increased circulation, reportedly speeding healing.