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Therapeutic Modalities in SportsMedicine

Electrical modalities

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Uses of Electrical stimulation

Pain management

Muscle strengthening

Reduction of Edema

Tissue healing

Increasing local blood flow

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Pain management

Direct method

Stimulation of large mylinated fibers Stimulation of small fibers to elicit a noxious

sensation

Indirect method

Reducing edema reduce pressure on free nerveendings

Local increase in blood flow facilitate tissue

healing

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Direct method- Parameters

Large mylinated fibers

A delta fibers

higher frequencies

( 80 -120 Hz)

Short pulse duration

smaller fibers

A beta fibers or c fibers Lower frequencies

( 1-10 Hz)

Longer pulse duration

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Muscle strengthening

Maintain or increase muscle tone Improve muscle recruitment

May be used isometrically Various joint positions with the muscle in a shortened, neutral

or lengthened position

Maybe used isotonically Either concentric or eccentric movement

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Reduction of Edema

Facilitate a muscle pumping action of

proximal muscle group

Facilitate a muscle pumping action ofproximal and distal muscle groups

Encourage some type of movement of fluidtowards lymph nodes

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Increasing local blood flow

Frequencies of 1- 10 Hz have shown an

increase in local circulation

Frequencies between 40-80 Hz have shown

a subtle increase in local circulation

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Parameters

Duty cycle (On Off setting)

Pulses Frequency, Rate

Pulse width

Pulse shape