The Effect Of Electrical Currents On Physical Therapy

Given: The use of electrical currents in physical therapy is a common practice. There are many different uses for electrical stimulation: it can be used to facilitate a muscle contraction, to decrease pain levels, to control edema, and to promote tissue healing.3 Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is the use of an electrical current to facilitate a muscle contraction, usually for strength gains.3 Many different parameters of electrical stimulation have been evaluated to determine which one elicits the strongest contraction. Russian current is probably the most widely recognized NMES parameter, however, current research is questioning if it is the best at producing the strongest muscle contraction.1,2,4,5 Electrical currents such as burst-modulated biphasic pulsed current, interferential current, and Aussie current have been shown to elicit stronger contractions than Russian is capable of.1,2,4,5 It’s important to fully understand what parameters are being changed with each of these different currents. Each current is made up of a waveform (AC, DC, or pulsed), frequency (hz, beats or pulses per second), an amplitude (mA, intensity), pulse duration ( µs, how long the pulse lasts), and burst duty cycle (10-50%, ratio of burst duration and time of the total cycle).5 The different NMES currents adjust some of these settings to elicit muscle contractions. It’s important note that lower duty cycles, lower frequencies, higher pulse durations, and higher amplitudes elicitShow MoreRelatedCauses And Prevention Of Cerebral Palsy1017 Words   |  5 Pagesapproximately 2 out of every 1,000 live births, Cerebral Palsy remains â€Å"the most common cause of motor impairment in children† (Granild-Jensen 931). Despite how commonplace it is, there is currently no cure. While it can have a variety of adverse effects, measures can be taken to treat and manage them so that patients may live a relatively normal life. Causes and Prevention Although Cerebral Palsy is described as a loss of motor function, it is actually a disorder of the brain and results from sustainedRead MoreWhat Makes Orthopedics? A Branch Of Medicine Concerned With The Correction Or Prevention Of Deformities1256 Words   |  6 Pagesassociated structures. 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