Electrotherapy

Electrotherapy is the name given to therapeutic applications of electric current in physical therapy. The corresponding currents are applied either via electrodes conductively connected to the skin surface.

A special form is iontophoresis of drugs through the skin. An existing electrical charge of a drug (such as Voltaren) can transport it into the tissue in an electrical field. The effect can lead to a multiple of the corresponding drugs reaching the tissue in a shorter time than when they are applied to the skin. The distribution of the active drug substance occurs via the blood vessels located in the skin.

Ultrasound therapy is a treatment within electrotherapy. It uses sound waves to generate heat in the tissue. Thus, ultrasound therapy is intended to relieve pain in joint and spine diseases. The physiotherapist first applies a special ultrasound gel to the body region to be treated. This creates an optimal connection between the skin and the ultrasound probe – even small layers of air between the probe and the surface of the body would prevent the transmission of the ultrasound waves. Alternatively, the ultrasound treatment can also be performed in a water bath.

During the treatment, the therapist moves the transducer over the part of the body to be treated. The sound waves are emitted from the device either continuously (uniform sound) or in pulses (pulsed sound). They penetrate up to five centimeters deep into the tissue. In addition, ultrasound treatment results in a so-called micro-massage.
A special form of ultrasound therapy is ultraphonophoresis, in which anti-inflammatory drugs, for example, are introduced into the body via ultrasound waves.

When can ultrasound therapy be helpful?
The sound waves have an effect primarily where tendons and bones meet, for example. Bones reflect the sound waves more strongly than the surrounding tissue, and heat is generated. Therefore, ultrasound therapy is mainly used for the following complaints and diseases:

• Chronic pain of tendon attachments due to wear and tear or incorrect loading (tendinosis).
• injury of ligaments, tendons and bursae
• bone wall formation (periostosis)
• superficial arthrosis (joint wear and tear)
• delayed bone healing after bone fractures
• soft tissue injuries due to accidents (contusion, sprain)
• spinal syndrome (collective term for acute or chronic pain, usually triggered by muscles, intervertebral discs and/or vertebral joints and associated with
• functional disorders in the spine – possibly involving arms and/or legs)
• rheumatic diseases
• chronic inflammatory diseases
• In most cases, ultrasound therapy is used as a complementary measure, for example in combination with physiotherapy.