06-06: Interferential Current Flashcards
1
Q
Interferential Current (IFC)
A
- Combines 2 medium fequency alternating waveforms that are biphasic that interfere with each other in the tissue
- Reaches deeper tissue because of higher frequency and shorter pulse width
2
Q
TENS vs. IFC
A
- TENS is lower frequency; IFC is medium current
- Less accommodation with IFC than TENS
- IFC is 1) more comfortable, 2) reaches deeper tissue, 3) avoids accommodation
3
Q
Primary applications
A
- Pain Management
- Muscle Contraction
4
Q
Pain Management - Parameters
A
- Beat Frequency: 50-120 pps
- Pulse Width: 50-150 microsec
5
Q
Muscle Contraction - Parameters
A
- Beat Frequency: 20-50 pps
- Pulse Width: 100-200 microsec
6
Q
Vector Scan
A
- Automatic: allows interference of the 2 medium frequency waves to encompass a larger area
- Manual: allows PTA to more precisely pinpoint the treatment area
7
Q
Sweep
A
- Helps to avoid accommodation
- Off: Set Beat Frequency (one number)
- On: Set Beat High and Beat Low; machine will modulate the current between these 2 numbers
8
Q
Beat Frequency
A
Resultant frequency that is delivered to the tissue after the two medium frequency waves destructively interfere with each other
9
Q
Carrier Frequency
A
Lower of the two medium frequency waves that are generated by the the machine; other frequency wave is the sum of the carrier frequency and the beat frequency
10
Q
Indications for IFC
A
- Pain management
- Urinary Incontinence
- Edema Management
- Osteoarthritic pain
- Migraines
11
Q
Contraindications for IFC
A
- Malignancy
- All types of electronic implants
- 1st trimester of pregnancy
- Over pregnant uterus
- Over anterior transcervical area
12
Q
Delivery Methods (3)
A
- Bipolar (Pre-modulation)
- Quadripolar
- Quadripolar with automatic vector scan
13
Q
Bipolar delivery
A
- Allows IFC to be modulated prior to delivery of current (“Pre-modulated” or “Pre-Mod”)
- 2 electrodes connected to same channel with 2 medium sinusoidal currents
- Interference of 2 currents occurs in the machine and creates an amplitude modulation with a beat frequency that is delivered to tissue
- Ex: one current is 3,000 Hz (carrier frequency), second is 3,050 Hz; Beat frequency is 50 Hz
14
Q
Quadripolar delivery
A
- Interference of the currents, and thus moduation, occurs in tissue
- Electrodes #1 and #2 connected to one channel, #3 and #4 connected to another
- Electrode placement is criss-cross pattern surrounding treatment area, current forms a cloverleaf pattern
- Target area is in the center of the electrodes
15
Q
Quadripolar with Automatic Vector Scan Delivery
A
- Used when increasing the size of the current field
- Machine allows you to move current field around after the set up to focus field over the target area
- Field is circular rather than cloverleaf
