Electrotherapy is the use of electric current for medical treatment. The technique is not as simple as it sounds to be. It is used for chronic pain management that might hail from conditions like osteoporosis, any neurological disorder, sports injuries or even cancer!

Treating patients with the use of electrical therapy finds mention in the pages of history too. Electrical treatments are known to have been administered to patients as early as the 18th century. Since then this treatment modality has evolved and modern medical science puts electrotherapy into a wide range of uses.

Medical conditions that need an electrotherapy

Pain and other disorder in your shoulders

Adhesive capsulitis is one major shoulder disorder that is most often treated with electrotherapy. Commonly known as ‘Frozen Shoulder’, it causes both pain and stiffness in the shoulders that may even last up till 2 to 3 years! Electrotherapy uses electrical, thermal, sound and light energy to rejuvenate the nerves and muscles in order to relieve the pain.

Is electrotherapy truly effective?

According to the Cochrane review found in Electrotherapy modalities for adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), the following is achieved by using electrotherapy on patients:

• About 30% of pain relief
• An overall increase in quality of life
• Abduction of active shoulder
• Lesser functional impairment

Some of the commonly resolved issues with the use of electrotherapy therefore are:

Chronic pain

Any chronic pain is treated with this therapy, especially the pulsed electromagnetic field therapy or PEMF. Therapeutic ultrasound, PEMF, continuous short-wave diathermy, TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) are some of the techniques which if supplemented with exercise are magically effective.

Neck and back pain

Electrotherapy works similarly for neck and back pain as in the case of frozen shoulder.

It typically involves the use of a battery-powered device that supplies current. The current runs into small electrodes which are indeed attached to your back. These electrical pulses temporarily provide relief to the area of acute pain. One type of electrotherapy, the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is often recommended for back pain.

Electrotherapy is one the most effective pain management solution that fits into any lifestyle, for instance, if there is chronic back pain 24/7, a wearable TENS, can ensure good sleep!

List of problems that electrotherapy may solve

In a nutshell, there is an array of the spine and joint disorders that are treated with electrotherapy. In fact, this treatment procedure has yielded promising results in cases involving musculoskeletal disorders. Some cases of nerve pain are also treated using this technique. The list of conditions that are resolved or subdued with the aid of electrotherapy are:

• Diabetic neuropathy

• Fibromyalgia

• Symptoms of Osteoporosis

• Chronic pain including neck and back pain

• Body pain that is generated in cancer patients

• Any sports injury or muscle sprain, etc.

Nevertheless, there have been situations where the results were not rewarding. The placement of electrodes as well as alterations in the way the current is delivered can enhance the outcome. Such treatments must be combined with proper medication to fix the cause of the pain.

Can electrotherapy be applied to any patient?

Finally, electrotherapy isn't suitable for all. Patients with pacemakers are at a high risk of 'arrhythmia'. Arrhythmia is the phenomenon of irregular heartbeats, especially when electrodes are placed near the heart. Pregnant women too cannot go for this therapy as it might cause damage to the fetus. People with neurological conditions and cognitive problems like dementia or Alzheimer's are not recommended electrical therapy.

Electrotherapy is a broad concept. There are different procedures that fall under the ambit of this, such as, TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation), PENS (Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation), EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) and PEMF. The condition of your health, and the issue that you are facing along with its type and degree, together determine as to which technique is most applicable in your case.