An Overview of the Use of
Modalities in Rehabilitation

Electrotherapy has been around for quite a long time with reports about medicinal use of electricity as far back as 420 B.C. Today this use is well accepted with many different applications described in the literature and a wide array of devices available to the practitioner.

Get Document > Clinical Indications and Protocols For Electrotherapy and Ultrasound

Electrotherapy is the application of electrical stimulation transmitted through the body via electrodes for therapeutic purposes. The current flows through the body from one electrode to the other and causes different physiological reactions depending upon the type of current selected, the parameters of the selected current, and the output intensity. As current flows through the body it can stimulate nerve and/or muscle tissue causing pain relief, muscle contraction to prevent/retard disuse atrophy or re-educate a muscle, relax spasms, or increase local circulation.

Get Document > Basic Terminology for Electro,Traction, US and Laser

Amplitude (Intensity)

Amplitude, or commonly called Intensity, is the amount of current (or voltage) with reference to the iso-electric baseline.  Commonly measured and described in milliamps (mA).

Beat Frequency 

The frequency at which the amplitude is modulated.  This is the effective therapeutic frequency.

Get Document > Making waves - patients reap the benefits of therapeutic ultrasound.  A news article.

Ultrasound - A high frequency sound wave used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes---has been used in the medical field for decades.  Why then is there so little research surrounding the effects of the modality?

"There is not a plethora of evidence, but there is some very respectable literature that has demonstrated the physiologic value of some modalities," said Dawn T. Gulick, PhD, PT, ATC, CSCS, a professor at Widener University's Institute for Physical Therapy.
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Electrical Stimulation Recent Research Bibliography

2008

Baijens, L. W., et al. (2008). "The effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation for dysphagia in opercular syndrome: a case study." Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 265(7): 825-30.

Bakhtiary, A. H. and E. Fatemy (2008). "Does electrical stimulation reduce spasticity after stroke? A randomized controlled study." Clin Rehabil 22(5): 418-25.

Baricich, A., et al. (2008). "A single-blinded, randomized pilot study of botulinum toxin type A combined with non-pharmacological treatment for spastic foot." J Rehabil Med 40(10): 870-2.

Barth, E., et al. (2008). "Low-dose, EMG-triggered electrical stimulation for balance and gait in chronic stroke." Top Stroke Rehabil 15(5): 451-5.

Bily, W., et al. (2008). "Training program and additional electric muscle stimulation for patellofemoral pain syndrome: a pilot study." Arch Phys Med Rehabil 89(7): 1230-6.

Get Document > References submitted to the FDA for the Clinical Protocols

 

Relax Muscle Spasms

 

1.                   Baker A., NeuroMuscular Electrical Stimulation A Practical Guide. 3^rd Edition 1993. Rehabilitation Engineering Program, Los Amigos Research & Engineering Institute, Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center. Pages 67-72.

2.                   Gersh MR, ed: Electrotherapy in Rehabilitation. FA Davis Co, Philadelphia, PA, 1992. Pages 242-244

3.                   Nelson RM, Currier DP, eds: Clinical Electrotherapy: Appleton & Lang, Norwalk, CT, 1987. Pages 126-130

4.                   Hecox B, Physical Agents A Comprehensive Text for Physical Therapists: Appleton & Lang Norwalk, CT, 1994. Pages 286-289

5.                   Morris L, Newton RA,  Use of High voltage Pulsed Galvanic Stimulation for Patients with Levator Ani Syndrome, Physical Therapy, Volume 67, Number 10, October 1987. Pages 1522-1525

6.                   Sohn N, et.al, The Levator Syndrome and its Treatment with High-Voltage Electrogalvanic Stimulation. The American Journal of Surgery, Volume 144, 1982

Get Document > Disuse Muscle Atrophy References

8.                  Mohr T, et.al, The Effect of High-Volt Galvanic Stimulation on Quadriceps Femoris Muscle Torque, The Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, Volume 7, Number 6, May 1996. Pages 314-318

9.                  Snyder-Mackler L. Use of Electrical Stimulation to Enhance Recovery of Quadriceps Femoris Muscle Force Production in Patients Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Physical Therapy Volume 74, Number 10, October 1994. Pages 901-907

10.              Laughman R, et.al. Strength Changes in the Normal Quadriceps Femoris Muscle as a Result of Electrical Stimulation. Physical Therapy, Volume 63, Number 4, April 1983. Pages494-499

Get Document > Increase Local Circulation References

1.        Heath ME, High Voltage Pulsed Galvanic Stimulation: Effects of Frequency of Current on Blood Flow in the Human Calf Muscle. Clinical Sciences, Number 82, 1992. Pages 607-613

2.             Nelson RM, Currier DP, eds: Clinical Electrotherapy: Appleton & Lang, Norwalk, CT, 1987. Pages 165-180

3.             Griffin JW, Efficacy of High Voltage Pulsed Current for Healing of Pressure Ulcers in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury, Physical Therapy volume 71, Number 6, June 1991. Pages 433-444

Get Document > Joint Range of Motion References

 

1.             Baker L, et.al, NeuroMuscular Electrical Stimulation A Practical Guide. 3^rd Edition 1993. Rehabilitation Engineering Program, Los Amigos Research & Engineering Institute, Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center. Pages 53-56, 72

2.             Pandyan AD, et.al Effects of Electrical Stimulation on the Wrist of Hemiplegic Subjects. Physiotherapy, Volume 82, Number 3, March 1996

Get Document > Muscle Re-Education References
 

1.            Faghri PD, et.al. The Effects of Functional Electrical Stimulation on Shoulder Subluxation, Arm Function Recovery, and shoulder Pain in Hemiplegic Stroke Patients. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 75, January 1994. Pages 73-79

2.             Baker L., NeuroMuscular Electrical Stimulation A Practical Guide. 3^rd Edition 1993. Rehabilitation Engineering Program, Los Amigos Research & Engineering Institute, Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center. Pages 56-59, 72

Get Document > Relax Muscle Spasms References

 

1.                   Baker A., NeuroMuscular Electrical Stimulation A Practical Guide. 3^rd Edition 1993. Rehabilitation Engineering Program, Los Amigos Research & Engineering Institute, Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center. Pages 67-72.

2.                   Gersh MR, ed: Electrotherapy in Rehabilitation. FA Davis Co, Philadelphia, PA, 1992. Pages 242-244

3.                   Nelson RM, Currier DP, eds: Clinical Electrotherapy: Appleton & Lang, Norwalk, CT, 1987. Pages 126-130

Get Document > Nonthermal Therapeutic Ultrasound to Enhance Tissue Healing Review of Available Literature

Therapeutic ultrasound is one of the most widely used physical agents in the field of rehabilitation.3,4,10,17,21 It has been used for over 50 years as both a thermal and a nonthermal physical agent.1,4,10,17,21 Therapeutic ultrasound is most often associated with heating of soft tissue. Previous research has established that both 1 and 3 MHz continuous ultrasound can produce subcutaneous tissue temperature increases of 4 °C, or greater, when the appropriate ultrasound treatment parameters are selected, including a treatment area no greater than 2 times the effective radiating area (ERA) of the ultrasound applicator.4,6,7,8,26 Historically, in the United States the important tissue healing effects of nonthermal ultrasound has received only limited attention. The focus of this paper is to review the effects of nonthermal therapeutic ultrasound on tissue healing.

Get Document > Ultrasound Therapy Recent Research Bibliograpy

2008

Bell, A. L. and J. Cavorsi (2008). "Noncontact ultrasound therapy for adjunctive treatment of nonhealing wounds: retrospective analysis." Phys Ther 88(12): 1517-24; discussion 1524-8.

Brown, R. A., et al. (2008). "An 18-year review of sports groin injuries in the elite hockey player: clinical presentation, new diagnostic imaging, treatment, and results." Clin J Sport Med 18(3): 221-6.

Cook, S. D., et al. (2008). "The effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on autologous osteochondral plugs in a canine model." Am J Sports Med 36(9): 1733-41.

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Intelect Electrotherapy Brochure
Get Document > Vectra Genisys Electrotherapy Brochure
Get Document > Intelect® Legend XT Electric Stimulation And Combo Units Sales Representative Reference

What is Electrotherapy?

Electrotherapy is the application of electrical stimulation transmitted through the body via electrodes for therapeutic purposes. The current flows through the body from one electrode to the other and causes different physiological reactions depending upon the type of current selected, the parameters of the selected current, and the output intensity. As current flows through the body it can stimulate nerve and/or muscle tissue causing pain relief, muscle contraction to prevent/retard disuse atrophy or re-educate a muscle, relax spasms, or increase local circulation.

Get Document >