Therapeutic modalities

Transcutaneous Electrical Neuro Stimulation (TENS)

A TENS unit consists of a battery-powered device that delivers electrical impulses to the injured area through electrodes (pads) placed on the surface of the skin. TENS is a non-invasive method that uses low voltage electrical current to provide pain relief.

The electrodes are placed at or near nerves where the pain is located or at trigger points. The weak electric currents produced disrupts the nerve conduction that makes you feel pain, stimulates the body’s release of analgesic substances (endorphins) and makes the muscle to relax.

TENS therapy has no side effects, but some skin types maybe sensitive to the electrodes. However, there are electrodes that are suitable for hypersensitive skin types.

Applications

Some of the most common conditions for which TENS has been used include:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Tendinitis (an inflammation or irritation of a tendon)
  • Bursitis
  • Low back pain
  • Chronic pelvic pain
  • Painful diabetic neuropathy 

Ultrasound Therapy

Ultrasound therapy is a treatment method in which mechanical vibrations are produced by the ultrasound device.

During the treatment, the head (transducer) of the ultrasound probe is placed in direct contact with the skin via a transmission coupling gel. During the procedure, the head of the ultrasound probe is in constant motion.

How does it work?

The mechanical vibrations (waves) that passes through the skin cause a vibration of the local muscle tissues.

The mechanical vibrations give micro-massage to the muscle fibres which provides relaxation and helps relieve muscle soreness, it also warms up the muscle fibres and increase fluid flow. During the treatment, no heat sensation may be felt unless a thermal dose is selected. In situations where a heating effect is not desirable, such as a fresh injury with acute inflammation, the ultrasound can be pulsed rather than continuously transmitted.

The heating and relaxing benefits help to alleviate muscle pain, while the increased flow to the affected area will mean that more lymph passes through the injured area.

It a very effective way to treat swelling and inflammation, not only of the muscles, but also of the joints and ligaments. Issues such as tendonitis, not-acute joint swelling, and chronic inflammation are some of the most commonly treated issues.

Physiological Effects

Deeply heated tendons, muscles, or ligaments can have the following benefits:

  • Increase circulation to tissues
  • Softening of scar tissue.
  • Speed ​​up the healing process
  • Heating and relaxing of the muscles in order to alleviate the pain
  • Increase elasticity
  • Reduction of inflammation, swelling

Application of ultrasound therapy

These can be:

  • Frozen shoulder
  • Tendon infections
  • Bursitis
  • Arthrosis
  • Joint inflammation such as retropatellar chondropathy.
  • Treatment after injury such as bruise, twist
  • Joint contracture or tightness
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome