In a chiropractic care setting, oftentimes your designated chiropractor may treat your condition beyond simple chiropractic adjustments.
Sometimes, a more targeted approach may be advised such as with the use of Electrotherapy as part of your care plan. While the concept of using electricity anywhere on your skin may sound daunting, they are in fact, quite a relaxing process to some people, as it may resemble a nice massage to the targeted soft tissues.
In today’s blog, let’s dwell a little on the concept of Electrotherapy and how it can help you in your specific condition. Read on to know all about electrotherapy and pain relief.
How Electrotherapy works to ease pain?
Electrotherapy is mainly used by chiropractors to:-
- Relax muscles
- Prevent muscle spasms
- Reduce pain and tightness
- Increase blood circulation
- Reduce swelling and inflammation
- Stimulate muscles
- Strengthens/ reactivates muscles in the early stage of atrophy (decrease of tissue mass mostly due to aging or inactivity)
This simple yet effective treatment uses electronic pulses on the affected muscles and nerves to relieve both chronic and acute pain by blocking pain signals delivered by the damaged nerves or muscles to the brain.
The process also helps release natural endorphins to combat the pain. This treatment can also help speed up the healing of the damaged tissues by ensuring nutrients are directed to the affected area to clear away accumulated toxins.
What does Electrotherapy treat?
If your chiropractor has decided to include Electrotherapy in your care plan, it could be that you have either one or some of these conditions:
General
- Chronic/ Acute back pain
- Joint pain
- Nerve inflammation
- Bursitis
- Muscle weakness
- Tendonitis
- Plantar Fascitis
- Ligament Sprain
- Muscle Strain
- Acute/ Chronic edema (swelling)
- Muscle spasm
Specific Conditions
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Spinal cord injury
- Atrophy
- Loss of motor functions
- Post-surgical pain
- Tennis Elbow
- Golfer’s Elbow
- General sports injury
In short, Electrotherapy is an ideal treatment option for many types of aches and pains.
Electrotherapy can be an option if you are looking for a safe, effective and non-invasive method for relieving pain and gaining better wellness over time.
What to expect during an Electrotherapy treatment session
Dress comfortably to your session as you will be required to lie on the treatment table, just like how it would be during a routine adjustment. The electrical pads will then be applied to the affected area where a low, steady electrical frequency will pulse – starting on a low frequency before gradually increasing to the patient’s comfort level without causing any pain or discomfort.
The session generally lasts between 8-10 minutes depending on the conditions and affected area.
At My Chirocare, we would typically use this treatment option alongside chiropractic adjustments, other therapeutic modalities and coaching on home rehabilitation exercises. Most patients feel more relaxed and even relieved after a session.
Is Electrotherapy for everyone?
While Electrotherapy may not be for everybody, it is a widely used option for chiropractors, physiotherapies and other healthcare professionals due to its vast benefits to the patients’ recovery. Nevertheless, patients who has any metal implant, pacemaker, history of epilepsy, thrombosis, haemorrhage, infections such as tuberculosis, osteomyelitis and even cancer should not undergo Electrotherapy.
Pregnant ladies should also be exempted from this therapy on their lower back or region close to their abdominal area.
Now that you’ve understood a little bit more about Electrotherapy, do look for us at My Chirocare should you feel any body aches and pains as mentioned above. Otherwise, do stop by our clinic to get a general health assessment done by our professional chiropractors.
Although commercially, one can opt to purchase electrotherapy devices for home use, they may miss out on the correct placement points for the electrical pads. My Chirocare strongly recommends one to at least seek out a proper diagnosis and electrotherapy treatment from a professional as a start.
We are trained to help you relieve pain and restore your health through a holistic approach, with the aim to improve your quality of life.