Lecturer Dr. Osman Çoban, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Üsküdar University shared his evaluations and recommendations regarding the usage areas, purposes, advantages of electrotherapy, and the points to be considered in the session.
Physiological changes occur in tissues
Defining electrotherapy as the use of electrical energy as a medical treatment, Lecturer Dr. Osman Çoban said, “Electrophysiological agents used in electrotherapy show their effects by causing physiological changes in tissues. Its use began even before 1855, when Guillaume Duchenne, the developer of electrotherapy, announced that alternating current was superior to direct current for electrotherapeutic triggering of muscle contractions.”
Can be used for many purposes
Lecturer Dr. Osman Çoban said that relaxation of muscle spasms of electrotherapy, prevention and delay of disuse atrophy, enhancement of local blood circulation, muscle rehabilitation and retraining, electrical muscle stimulation, maintenance and increase of range of motion, management of chronic and persistent pain, reduction of acute pain after trauma and surgery, venous thrombosis and wound injury used to heal. Osman Çoban said, “Electrophysical agents such as electromagnetic fields (short wave and microwave), ultrasound, laser, electrical stimulation, therapeutic diathermy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), interference currents and ESWT are used for therapeutic purposes in physiotherapy departments.”
It can also be used in the treatment of Parkinson’s and MS
Stating that electrotherapy sessions last an average of 30-45 minutes, Dr. Çoban said, “The duration of the session varies according to the practices determined by the physician according to the complaints of the patients. Electrotherapy can be applied in low back and neck pain, joint pain, paralysis, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), spinal cord injury, rheumatological diseases, orthopedic and pediatric rehabilitation.”
Very few side effects
Dr. Çoban listed the advantages of electrotherapy as follows;
- It reduces pain,
- Provides healing in muscle injuries,
- It is not invasive, provides pain control without the use of drugs,
- It prevents weakening of the muscles,
- Increases blood circulation in the injured area,
- It has very few side effects.
May be harmful to health if misused
Indicating that electrotherapy, which is one of the basic elements of physiotherapy, has been widely used for a long time in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, Lect. Dr. Osman Çoban said, “Electrotherapy, which is known as a very reliable method that does not cause any side effects when used correctly, can cause harmful effects on the health of patients when applied incorrectly. It can also lead to results such as burns, rashes, allergies due to the pads used, increased pain, nausea and fainting.”
What should be considered in the session?
Lecturer Dr. Osman Çoban shared the points to be considered during electrotherapy sessions as follows;
- The patient should not be hungry before the session. Applying a session right after a meal can lead to negative effects.
- There is no harm in taking a bath after the treatment sessions,
- Cell phone should be turned off during sessions as some electrotherapy devices will create magnetic field,
- There should be no metal objects close to the treated area during the treatment and
- For safe application of electrotherapy agents, the patient should prefer comfortable clothes.
