WHAT IS ELECTROTHERAPY?

Electrotherapy uses electrical signals to interfere with the transmission of neural pain signals into the brain. It effectively slows down or distracts the message from the nerve to the brain.

From a physiotherapy point of view, affecting one’s ‘Pain Gate’, whether in an acute or chronic pain episode, is a crucial area of treatment and electrotherapy is a very useful resource where conventional medicines are not as affective.

Electrotherapy can also involve the use of this electric current to speed tissue healing where tissue damage has also occurred. It can also increase sensations and muscle strength.

Electrotherapy typically involves the use of a battery-powered device that supplies a current to small electrodes (which attach to your area of pain). This in turn sends electrical pulses to the area where experiencing symptoms. There are numerous kinds of electrotherapy devices available, but the most popular ones are transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) units.