Electrotherapy Evidence Based

  ↵ Pain modulation Pain is unpleasant sensation of the body. The receptors of pain are called nociceptors. Nociceptors are present all over the body especially skin (subcutaneously). Any physical, thermal and mechanical pressure stimulates the nociceptors. The impulses are carried by two types of neuron; Primary or 1 st order neuron and Secondary or 2 nd order neuron. 1 st order neuron: Primary afferent fibers transmit impulses from the sensory receptors to dorsal horn of spinal cord. 2 nd order neuron: 2 nd order afferent fibers carry sensory impulses from the dorsal horn of the spinal cord to the brain. A α and A β are large diameter (myelinated) nerve fibers. A Δ and C fibers are the small diameter (unmyelinated) nerve fibers. The impulses from spinal cord to the brain are carried by Dorsal spinothalamic tract, spinoreticular tract and spinocephalic tract. Pain Gate Control Theory: This theory was suggested by Pat wall and Melazak in 19

Therapeutic Ultrasound Sound is the mechanical disturbance of an elastic medium such as air. Vibrations which travel through the air or another medium are called as sound. The frequency of hearing sound is 20Hz – 20,000Hz. Ultrasound means the above the frequency of sound or the sound waves which are produced above the 20,000 Hz. Production of Ultrasound: For a one mega Hz frequency machine vibrating source with a frequency of one million pulses/s (million cycles/s) is needed. This is achieved by using either quartz crystal or barium crystal. These crystals deformed when subjected to various potential differences (Piezoelectric effect). The basic components of Ultrasound apparatus are the following. o   Source if high frequency current o   Cable o   Link electrodes o   Barium or Quartz crystal o   Metal plate Working: Source of high frequency current which is conveyed via co – axial cable to a transducer circuit or ultrasound head. Inside th

  Short Wave Diathermy (SWD) Frequency (ƒ) 10 7 – 10 8 Hz Radio wavelength (λ) 3 -30 m Commonly used frequency (ƒ) is 27.12 MHz and wavelength 11 m. It this current two circuits are used. Machine circuit is coupled with the patient circuit leading to resonance phenomenon, in this way patient is treated. A.   Machine circuit: The basic oscillator circuit consists of condenser, inductance, and the currents of different frequencies are obtained by selecting suitable condenser and inductance. It a current of very high frequency is required, the condenser and inductance are very small. While to produce a current of lower frequency a larger condenser and inductance is used. B.   Patient circuit: When SWD is applied by the condenser field method, the electrodes in the patient tissues form a capacitor, the capacitance of which depends upon the size electrodes and distance material between them. When the oscillator and resonator circuits are in t

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION:          Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is electromagnetic radiation with a frequency range of 7.5 3 1014 to over 1015 Hz and wavelengths from 400 to below 290 nm. The frequency of UV radiation lies between that of x-rays and visible light . UV radiation is divided into three bands—UVA, UVB, and UVC—with wavelengths of 320 to 400, 290 to 320, and less than 290 nm, respectively. UVA, also known as long-wave UV, produces fluorescence in many substances, whereas UVB, or middle-wave UV, produces the most skin erythema. UVC, or short-wave UV, is germicidal. Because UV does not produce heat, it is thought to produce physiological effects by nonthermal mechanisms. The most significant source of UV radiation is the sun, which emits a broad spectrum of UV, including UVA, UVB, and UVC. Both UVA and UVB reach the earth from the sun; however, UVC is filtered out by the ozone layer. Patients can be treated with UV of specific wavelength ranges using a

  LASER Therapy It is recent modality of Physiotherapy and stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Production of Laser: It is produced by the excitation of the atoms of some elements through electromagnetic radiations. Type of Laser: 1         Power Laser 2         Soft Laser 3         Mid Laser - Power Laser is used for the destruction of tissues or surgical purposes. - Soft Laser is used in skin diseases. -  Mid Laser is used for the therapeutic purpose. It is used by the Physiotherapist as their dept of penetration is sufficient to produce biological effects in deeper tissues without damaging the skin. Mid Laser: In Physiotherapy two types of Mid Laser are used. o   One type of Mid Laser contains Helium – neon Laser combined with infrared Laser having wavelengths of 630 nm and 904 nm respectively. Both combine are used to treat the deeper tissues i.e. 30mm from surface. It should be placed at 30 cm distance

  The therapeutic techniques involving the introduction of ion into the body tissue through patient’s skin is called Iontophoresis. Principle: Place the ions under the electrode with the same charge i.e. negative ions placed under cathode and positive ions under anode. The electrode under which ions are placed is called active electrode. Iontophoresis is used for hyperhydrosis (excessive sweating). Use of tape water: The use of tape water produces no side effect but the ions in it may not inhibit sweating sufficiently. So an anticollinerfic compound in distilled water is recommended. The hands and feet may be affected and require treatment but no attempt should be made to treat the hands and feet on the same day. There should be elapse of several days in their treatment. Apparatus: Source of direct current Shallow plastic tray Foot or arm bath for cathode Two lint pads to cover electrodes Anti-cholinergic compound solution Distilled water

Phyaction 787 Multistimulator Interface and electrodes 1-Faradic Current 2-Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)     3-Interrupted Direct Current 3-Interfrential Current 3-Didynamic Current