Introduction and

classification
of electrotherapy

Masood Abdullah Hussein

MSc physiotherapy
• Electro – Electric Current / Electrical
Energy.
• Modality – Machines/ Equipment's.
• Therapy – Treatment of disease, Non
surgical treatment approach.
• It means various forms of THERAPEUTIC
applications using ELECTRICAL ENERGY
as primary source.
 :Electrotherapy - Definition

• Electrotherapy can be defined as the

treatment of patients by electrical

means.
Physiologic Response To Electrical Current

• 1: Creating muscle contraction through nerve

or muscle stimulation
• 2: Stimulating sensory nerves to help in
treating pain
• 3: Creating an electrical field in biologic
tissues to stimulate or alter the healing process
Physiologic Response To Electrical Current

• 4: Creating an electrical field on the skin surface to

drive ions beneficial to the healing process into or
through the skin

• 5:The type and extent of physiologic response

dependent on:
– Type of tissue stimulated
– Nature of the electrical current applied
Physiologic Response To Electrical Current

• As electricity moves through the body's

conductive medium, changes in the
physiologic functioning can occur at various
levels
– Cellular
– Tissue
– Segmental
– Systematic
 Effects at Cellular Level
• Excitation of nerve cells
• Changes in cell membrane permeability
• Protein synthesis
• Stimulation of fibroblasts and osteoblasts
• Modification of microcirculation
 Effects at Tissue Level
• Skeletal muscle contraction
• Smooth muscle contraction
• Tissue regeneration
 Classification of therapeutic currents according to frequency

• Current in which the direction •Those current

of electron flow changes
periodically with a frequency of 10,000 Hz
of 1-1000 Hz.
or more.
Low Frequency High frequency

•Current in which
alternate the direction
of flow of electrons with
a frequency between
1000-10.000 Hz .
Medium
Frequency
 Instruments used in Electrotherapy

I-Low & Medium

Frequency Modalities III-High Frequency
• TENS Modalities
(transcutaneous Shortwave Diathermy Other Modalities
Electrical Nerve (S.W.D)
Stimulation) Continuous Passive
Microwave Diathermy Mobilizer (C.P.M)
• High-Voltage pulsed (M.W.D)
stimulation Traction unit (Cervical
Ultra Sound Therapy & Lumbar Traction)
• Neuromuscular (U.S)
Electrical Paraffin Wax Bath
Shockwave therapy (P.W.D)
Stimulation IV-Actinotherapy
• Galvanic Hydrocollator Unit
Infra - red Radiations Hydrotherapy –
Stimulation (I.R.R)
• Russian current Whirlpool therapy
Ultraviolet Radiations Fluido - Therapy
• Faradic current (U.V.R)
• Iontophoresis Laser Therapy
• Interferential
Therapy (I.F.T)
 Classification of frequencies

Low frequency current

ranging from 0 to 1000 Hz

Medium frequency current

ranging from 1000 to 10000 Hz

High frequency current

ranging from 10000 Hz onwards

Examples of electric fields near charge particles and plates •
 Electrical energy

• Electrical energy is the energy carried by

moving electrons in an electric conductor. 

• It cannot be seen, but it is one of our most

useful forms of energy because it is relatively
easy to transmit and use.
 Types of electricity / Current

• Currents can be classified into

1 . Alternating (AC)

2 . Direct (DC)

3 . Pulsatile (PC)
 TYPES EXPLAINED

1. Direct current (DC)

The current flows only in one direction.

2. Alternating (AC)
The continuous flow of
electrons is bidirectional

Electrons flowing in an
alternating current always
move from the negative
to positive pole
3.Pulsatile (PC)
Contains three or more pulses grouped
together and may be undirectional or
bidirectional
 Therapeutic uses of electricity – Focusing on Low
frequency currents

Main uses of electricity are:

1. Muscle contraction
Re education of the muscle

To improve muscle strength

To prevent atrophy of muscles

To increase range of motion

To increase muscle pump contraction

 .…Cont
2.Sensory stimulation
To reduce pain
Used as placebo effect
3.Ion movement
4.Analgesia
5.Recent researches shows
Fracture healing
Wound healing
Ligament and tendon healing
 Burn
It caused by:
• Contact of the metal to the skin
• Over dosage
• Skin lesion
• Metal in the part.
 Concentration of current
• It is caused by:
• The presence of un-dissolved salt in solution
• Creases on the pad
• Pads unevenly moist
• Any raised skin edges