Clincal Application Flashcards
What are the 2 determining characteristics of high volt pulsed current (HVPC)?
- Must have twin peak monophasic current
- Must have be able to transmit a voltage of at least 150 V
What are the 5 things HVPC is used for?
- muscle reeducation
- nerve stimulation
- edema reduction
- pain control
- wound healing
The high peak and low average current of high-voltage stimulation provides what?
Deep penetration of a comfortable current
What is the pulse rate for HVPC?
1-120 pps depending on the desired clinical application
TENS utilizes a __phasic current to prevent net residual charge
biphasic
What characteristic of TENS specifically targets sensory, motor, and pain fibers?
The adjustable phase durations
What are the uses of TENS?
- Control of acute or chronic pain (typically LBP patients)
- Management of post-surgical pain
- Reduction of post-traumatic acute pain
What is low rate TENS?
TENS with long phase duration, high-amplitude pulses (low pulse frequency) used to control pain
What type of reactions are elicited with low rate TENS?
Repetitive muscle contractions or brief sharp pain
How long will low rate TENS usually control pain?
for 4 to 5 hours after a 20-30 minute treatment
Why do you not want to do a low rate TENS application for longer than 45 minutes?
Because prolonging the repetitive muscle contractions can result in DOMS
What is high rate TENS?
The most comfortable form of TENS application that utilizes short phase duration, low-amplitude pulses (high pulse frequency)
Because high rate or conventional TENS modulates pain through gating, how long should TENS treatments be?
They can be an all day treatment if necessary
When using high rate TENS long term what must you modulate?
Output must be modulated to reduce accommodation
What is brief-intense (burst) TENS?
TENS with long phase duration, high pulse frequency used to control pain
How does brief-intense (burst) TENS modulate pain?
It creates a negative feedback loop in the CNS by releasing opiates that inhibit the release of Substance P which blocks or reduces pain transmission
How long should brief-intense (burst) TENS be?
Very short treatment duration due to the noxious-level output
When should you not use TENS?
When you do not know the origin of the pain
What may reduce the effectiveness of TENS?
- Intake of 200 mg or more of caffeine
- Narcotics
What is interferential current (IFC)?
The waveform produced by the interference of two medium frequency sinusoidal ACs of slightly different frequencies
How are the waveforms of IFC delivered?
Through two sets of electrodes through separate channels in the same stimulator. The electrodes are configured on the skin so that the 2 ACs intersect
What happens when the two ACs of IFC intersect?
They interfere, producing a higher amplitude when both currents are in the same phase a lower amplitude when the two currents are in opposite phases. This produces envelopes of pulses known as beats
What does the beat frequency equal for IFC?
The difference between the frequencies of the 2 original ACs
When a carrier frequency of 5000 Hz interferes with a current with a frequency of 5100 Hz, what is the beat frequency?
100 Hz
