Electrotherapy devices are used to create an electrical current from a power source in order to apply it to the body’s soft tissues through electrodes that are placed over specific areas. This measured electrical current partially disrupts pain signals, thus preventing them from reaching the brain. It is often prescribed to treat various acute and chronic musculoskeletal ailments. BuyMedical offers various reliable and safe electrotherapy devices you can use at home. We have amazing products like the BioStim SD Digital TENS and EMS 2000 Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulator with Dual-channels. Check out our selection of electrotherapy devices and get one that suits your needs.
How To Choose Electrotherapy Devices
Electrotherapy devices are used in a wide range of treatments involving the use of electricity as a therapeutic tool to promote healing in the body. Moreover, it primarily uses an electrical current to stimulate muscles and nerves through the skin and provides a measure of pain relief. Electrotherapy devices stimulate nerves and muscles to enhance function, and has a therapeutic effect of relaxing tissues to ease pain. It is commonly used alongside other treatments, rather than by itself. Electrotherapy is gaining popularity as an alternative option in relieving pain as the potential side effects and risks of narcotic drugs have become very apparent.
Medical professionals like physical therapists, chiropractors, and even cardiologists use electrotherapy devices to improve their patient’s quality of life through pain management. For example, when patients undergo physical therapy, electrotherapy can relieve pain sufficiently so the patient can better participate in targeted exercises. Each type of electrotherapy has a different purpose. It is vital to use the proper type of electrical impulse to effectively address the symptoms associated with the patient’s condition and enhance favorable treatment results. Electrotherapy devices are classified in four different types: transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), interferential (IF) therapy, microcurrent (Micro) therapy, and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS).
TENS
TENS is the most popular among the electrotherapy modalities. This kind of therapy transmits current through the skin to connect with the nervous system by blocking peripheral pain pathway receptors that leads to the brain, resulting in decreased pain sensation a person is feeling. Although, TENS should not be considered a cure for the cause of the pain, it often serves to relieve discomfort during the treatment. TENS therapy offers the benefit of relieving pain without exposing the patient to potentially harmful side effects associated with the use of other methods to pain management, like narcotic drugs.
Interferential therapy
Interferential therapy (IF) is another popular type of electrotherapy. Interferential therapy is similar to TENS in that it transmits current through the skin to relieve pain. However, IF travels at a much higher frequency allowing it to go deeper into the body tissues. It can target pain that reside in body parts that can’t be reached by the frequency emitted by a TENS unit.
Microcurrent therapy
The third kind of electrotherapy discussed is microcurrent therapy (Micro). The current emitted by Micro mimics the current naturally produced by our bodies. This enhances the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in cells in and surrounding the treated area. Micro also increases blood circulation, causing the treated cells to become more active and may result in faster healing.
Electrical Muscle Stimulation
The last of the four main types of electrotherapy is Electrical Muscle Stimulation. EMS is different from the other kinds of electrotherapy, EMS transmits pulsing current specifically to the muscles, causing them to regularly contract and relax. EMS can be used to prevent muscle atrophy and enhance overall muscle tone or treat conditions like recurrent or chronic muscle spasms.
