Electrotherapy is the practice of sending electric currents through various parts of the body to treat medical problems. Electrotherapy is used to treat a range of problems, from chronic pain to depression.
History
The first recorded use of electricity in a medical procedure dates to the time of Aristotle, around 350 B.C. At the time, the shock of the Mediterranean torpedo fish was prescribed for the treatment of gout and headaches. Notable advancements did not occur until 1747, when Jean Jallabert, a physics professor in Geneva, was able to alleviate paralysis in a locksmith's arm.
Types
There are number of different types of electrotherapy which are virtually without pain and effective. The most common include transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulators (TENS) and interferential current (IFC). TENS, which stimulates muscles at relatively low frequencies, may be used in a clinic or in a patient's residence. IFC, on the other hand, stimulates at a higher frequency, and thus much more deeply.
Applications
Various kinds of electrotherapy may be used to treat pain, stimulate muscles, increase blood circulation, treat lesions, repair damaged tissue and treat depression.
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