What is it?

At Physioworks Physiotherapy we use the following electrotherapeutic modalities:

• Ultrasound
• Interferential Current (IFC)
• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
• Dual Channel EMG Feedback

Our physiotherapists use electrotherapy as an adjunct to other physiotherapy techniques such as exercise rehabilitation, joint mobilisation and acupuncture.

How does it work?

• Ultrasound - high frequency sound waves are applied to the tissues to accelerate the rate of healing by spurring on the inflammatory process and increasing the extensibility of scar tissue.  It is a painless, non-invasive procedure.
• IFC & TENS - Medium frequency currents are applied to the skin via electrodes to decrease pain by modulating the pain pathways to reduce the perception of pain.  This is a non-invasive procedure which produces a sensation similar to 'pins and needles'
• EMG Biofeedback – this allows us to measure the amount of electrical activity generated by a muscle. The harder the muscle is working, the larger electrical activity it will generate. Consequently we can selectively target individual muscles for strengthening. Conversely, if there is too much tension in a muscle, for example the upper shoulder or neck muscles, we deploy this technique to train these muscles to relax.

What conditions is it used for?

Any conditions that require pain relief or the control of inflammation.  However, at Physioworks Physiotherapy, we typically use these modalities for acute injuries (for example an ankle sprain) or isolated problems in a very small area (for example tennis elbow).  We nearly always use electrotherapy in conjunction with other treatment techniques.