Release time：2024-09-24 17:04
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Treatment parameters
Waveform:
| Wave form | Applicable symptoms |
| Square wave | Commonly used for pain relief, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and regulation of autonomic nervous system function |
| Triangular wave | Suitable for electrical stimulation of denervated muscles and smooth muscles |
| Exponential wave | The waveform is similar to triangular waves and is used for electrical stimulation of the optic nerve muscles and smooth muscles |
| Sharp waves | Used for neuromuscular electrical stimulation, softening scars, and loosening adhesions |
| Sawtooth wave | Stimulation of incomplete loss of nerve, muscle and smooth muscle |
| Sine wave | Stimulating normal and denervated muscles for chronic inflammation |
Amplitude: The amplitude reflects the intensity of the current. The maximum amplitude is the tip or highest point of each phase, expressed in amperes, microamperes or milliamperes. The total current can be changed by time interval or pulse frequency. High intensity allows the current to penetrate deeper into the tissue, so when deep muscle stimulation is needed, the current intensity can be increased appropriately.
Frequency: The frequency of electrotherapy affects the number of muscle contractions. High frequency is suitable for increasing muscle tension because it has a cumulative effect. Low frequency is suitable for stimulating muscle contraction and reducing edema.
Current cycle: When the current is the same, increasing the current action cycle time can recruit more nerve fibers.
Electrode:
Electrode function:
(1) Chemical reaction (only occurs after long-term action): pH change, reflex vasodilation, and the direction of ion movement between tissues.
(2) Electrical stimulation: Negative electrodes work better because depolarization is easier.
(3) Current direction: Electrode effects (ion introduction, stimulation of motor points or peripheral nerves, biological effects of cells) will occur around the two electrodes, and there will not be much impact between current conduction.
(4) Current intensity: As the current penetrates deeper into the tissue, the current gradually weakens, especially when encountering fat tissue.
Distance between electrodes: Close electrodes - act on the superficial layer of the skin, far electrodes: deep treatment (act on nerves and muscles).
Electrode size: The smaller the electrode, the greater the current density below it. Therefore, for maximum benefit, the large positive electrode should be placed distal to the treatment site and the small electrode should be placed at the nerve/muscle to be treated. When an electrode of equal size is applied above deep fat tissue, the current cannot reach the nerve tissue. The current intensity is greater below the small electrode.
Electrode placement:
(1) Around the pain.
(2) On specific dermatomes, myotomes, or sclerotomes corresponding to the pain area.
(3) Placed in the spinal cord segment close to the nerve innervating the pain area.
(4) Superficial nerve innervation of the pain area.
(5) Vascular structures including nerve tissue and ionic fluids are most susceptible to electrode stimulation.
(6) Electrodes can be placed at trigger points or acupuncture points.
(7) Electrodes should be placed at the motor point of the muscle, or at least on the belly of the muscle you are trying to induce contraction.
(8) If the treatment is effective, the patient's pain should be reduced.
(9) A combination of any of the above and bilateral electrode placement are also possible.
(10) Bipolar electrodes use electrodes of the same size over the same general treatment area. Since the electrodes are the same size, the current density under each electrode is essentially the same. Therefore, the physiological effect under each electrode should be the same. However, if one electrode is located over a motor point and the other is not, muscle contraction may occur at lower current amplitudes at the motor point.
(11) Monopolar electrode applications use one or more small active electrodes over the aluminum treatment area and a large dispersed electrode elsewhere on the body. There is a higher current density under the smaller or active electrode, so the desired physiological response may occur at the active electrode.
(12) Cross-patterns use two sets of bipolar electrodes, each from a completely independent channel. IFCs are used for interferometry and pre-modulation. They involve the application of electrical properties, such as the electrical signals from each set of electrodes are added together at a certain point on the body, and the intensity is accumulated. The electrodes are usually arranged in a cross pattern around the point being stimulated. If you want to target a specific surface area, the electrodes should be relatively close together. If the pain is localized and seems to be deeper in the joint or muscle area, move the electrodes farther apart to provide more penetration for the current.