On Putting an End to the Backlash Against Electrophysical Agents.

Electrophysical agents (EPAs) are core therapeutic interventions in academic physical therapy curricula around the world. They are used concomitantly with several other therapeutic interventions such as exercise, manual therapy techniques, medications, and surgery for the management of a wide variety of soft tissue disorders. Over the past decade, the practice of EPAs has been the subject of intense scrutiny in the U.

Use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation along with functional tasks for immediate pain relief in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.

Background: Knee pain is the major complaint in individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA), and the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on knee pain are controversial. The present study applied TENS along with functional tests to investigate its effect on pain level in individuals with mild-to-moderate knee OA.

Methods: Twenty volunteers with knee OA classification of graded 2-3 performed four functional tests (stair climb test [SCT], timed up and go test [TUG], 6-minute walk test [6-MWT], knee extensor strength test [KES], and 2-step test from the locomotive syndrome risk test [LSR_2ST]) while wearing either an active or inactive TENS.

Efficacy of microcurrent therapy for treatment of acute knee pain: A randomized double-blinded controlled clinical trial.

Objective: We would like to determine whether electrotherapy, specifically microcurrent therapy, increases function and decreases pain in people who have acute knee pain.

Design: Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Setting: University laboratory and patient home.

Enhanced healing of diabetic foot ulcers using local heat and electrical stimulation for 30 min three times per week.

Background: Electrical stimulation (ES) with heating is effective in healing chronic wounds. However, it this effect due to ES alone or both heating and ES? The aim of the present study was to deduce the individual roles of heat and ES in the healing of chronic wounds.

Methods: The study was performed on 20 patients (mean age 48.

The combined effect of a three-channel electrode delivery system with local heat on the healing of chronic wounds.

Background: Historically, electrical stimulation (ES) has been used as a treatment for wound care. However, some studies show wounds healing with ES, whereas others do not. Part of the difficulty can be resolved by using heat to help dilate blood vessels, but an inherent problem with ES is uneven currents across the wound due to the use of only two electrodes.

A new electrode design to improve outcomes in the treatment of chronic non-healing wounds in diabetes.

Background: Chronic wounds are life-threatening in people with diabetes. Some studies show that electrical stimulation (ES) can help wounds heal, while others do not. But, ES is usually applied using a two-electrode system, where current distribution is greatest in the center line between the electrodes.

Estimation of the distribution of intramuscular current during electrical stimulation of the quadriceps muscle.

Electrical stimulation is commonly used for strengthening muscle but little evidence exists as to the optimal electrode size, waveform, or frequency to apply. Three male and three female subjects (22-40 years old) were examined during electrical stimulation of the quadriceps muscle. Two self adhesive electrode sizes were examined, 2 cm x 2 cm and 2 cm x 4 cm.

The influence of local versus global heat on the healing of chronic wounds in patients with diabetes.

Background: In a previous study, it was shown that placing a subject with chronic diabetic ulcers in a warm room prior to the use of electrical stimulation dramatically increased the healing rate. However, global heating is impractical in many therapeutic environments, and therefore in the present investigation the effect of global heat versus using a local heat source to warm the wound was investigated.

Methods: Twenty-nine male and female subjects participated in a series of experiments to determine the healing associated with electrical stimulation with the application of local heat through a heat lamp compared to global heating of the subject in a warm room.

The thermal effect on the blood flow response to electrical stimulation.

Background: Wounds, especially in the elderly, can be life threatening. One modality which allegedly increases blood flow (BF) as an aid to heal chronic wounds is electrical stimulation. This technique applies electrical current (ES) across wounds.

A randomized control study on the effect of biphasic electrical stimulation in a warm room on skin blood flow and healing rates in chronic wounds of patients with and without diabetes.

Background: Decrease in skin blood flow (BF) due to diabetes may be one reason why only 31% of neuropathic diabetic ulcers heal in 20-weeks. Recent evidence shows that skin blood flow may be increased if therapy is done in a warm room. The purpose of this investigation was to compare healing rates and skin blood flow of chronic stage III and IV wounds in people with diabetes (D) and those without diabetes (WD) using a warm room and electrical stimulation.