Everything You Should Know about Electrotherapy
The world today should be grateful for all innovative technology that has been involved greatly in the transformation of the field of medicine. There are countless alternatives to treating different health problems, all of which work to the advantage of the patient.
When you experience chronic pain, for example, whether in your neck, shoulder, or back, different approaches can be used as treatment, including chiropractic electrotherapy. If you’ve never been to a chiropractor near you, perhaps learning more about the kind of services they offer can speed up your decision to visit one today.
What is Electrotherapy?
It is a treatment in chiropractic care that capitalizes on electric currents, delivered in small doses to the body, to relieve chronic pain. The electric currents are targeted to the problematic area of your body, to stimulate both the nerves and muscles thereof, which helps alleviate pain.
This treatment works amazingly to strengthen the weak muscles of your body all while alleviating any kind of pain. The electric currents can also help improve the blood circulation in the targeted area of your body, which helps with speedy healing and tissue regeneration.
Two Most Popular Types of Electrotherapy
Even though there are many different types of electrotherapy chiropractic treatments, the two common ones are:
- TENS – it stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and is the most common type of electrotherapy used by chiropractors in Traverse City. It features a combination of electrodes with the electric current machine into one device, eliminating the wiring. This makes it consumer-friendly and wearable. It also comes with a handheld controller for regulating the dosage of the electric current flowing to your body.
- EMS – it stands for electrical muscle stimulation, and focuses on muscle therapy, as opposed to nerve stimulation. It mimics the brain signals typically sent to your muscles to move them. When the electric current is passed to your muscles, therefore, they move. The result is relaxed muscle spasms, strong muscles, increased blood supply to your muscles, to mention a few.
Common Chiropractic Electrotherapy Side Effects
Like with any other medical treatment, side effects are expected with this chiropractic technique. The electric therapy side effects, however, differ from person to person, based on underlying health status as well as the sensitivity of the skin. Some of the common side effects include:
- Skin rashes and redness – the adhesives in the electrodes placed on your skin will be the particular areas you can anticipate some rashes and redness of the skin.
- Itchy skin
- Skin irritation – experienced as a burning sensation on the treated area of your skin
- Bruising and swelling
- Bleeding – this is particularly for when the stimulation is performed on an area of your skin that is broken or has an open wound. Without proper caution, this may also cause an infection. It is why you must ensure you are getting your treatment done by an experienced and licensed chiropractor in 49686.
- Fetal damage – chiropractic electrotherapy during pregnancy is not encouraged. When the electric pads are placed in your abdominal region when pregnant, the electric currents may cause fetal damage.
- Cardiac arrhythmia – this happens when the electric pads are placed over your heart. It is usually a concern for patients with heart conditions or those with pacemakers.
Should You Try Electrotherapy?
When your wellness depends on it, there is no fault in trying different methods to improve the functionality of your body. In chiropractic care, you enjoy less invasive medical procedures, which are far much preferable to surgeries. Besides, this treatment works well for treating a variety of health problems, ranging from rheumatoid arthritis, chronic back pain, and chronic nerve pain, to issues like muscle injuries, spasms, and even labor pains.
While there should be no particular limitations to trying chiropractic electrotherapy, your chiropractor will emphasize a detailed medical history report to ensure you are fit for the treatment. Only underlying health problems can limit you from Benefiting from chiropractic electrotherapy near you. Some health restrictions include the following:
- Epilepsy
- A previous diagnosis of a stroke
- Congenital heart disease
- Previous cancer diagnosis
- Lymphedema
- Early stages of pregnancy
- High-risk pregnancies