Electrotherapy

Hi.

Is it me or do a lot of physios rely on electrotherapy?

I personally don't like using any machines if i can get away with it but i will use an ultrasound to keep a patient happy (they usually hace to request it) or if they have a soft tissue injury in the remodelling phase.

Otherwise, why are we still using it?

Even heat and ice packs - send the patient home with one and make sure you sold it to them!

Obviously it is just an opinion. Am i alone out there?

Hey Alophysio

I do think we depend alot on engineers to assess and treat our patients. I live in Canada where doctors will send patients for time wasting MRI's and X-rays for things that can be ruled out with simple and timely orthopedic testing.

I am very hands on and pride myself with it but I know there is more than one protcol out there that can skin a cat. In the end I can see it coming down to a man and his toys. :rollin

Adamo

Im with you ALO, here in Canada, i see alot of physios using Electro devices , and i honestly believe a hands on approach is the way to go.

Having said this, one needs years of experience to handle this, together with more continuing education courses after grad, as we have discussed recently.

I believe students ar ebeing taught that electro is a very imp part of the treatment routine, something which might not be always 100% true

Interesting and contraversial issues you have brought up here. I am wondering what manual approach you take to treating diabetic peripheral neuropathies with at least an 80% success rate ? I know one and its not a manual approach !

Hi Hojo, from the sound of your two recent posts I cannot but think you are about to try and sell us something! What that is I have no idea but you seem a bit reluctant to offer up the goods in this open environment? :smokin

Hi Hojo,

Yes it is an interesting area. Please note that i asked why it seems that physios rely on electro.

My caseload of diabetic peripheral neuropathies has been a total of NIL in 14 years so i am unaware of what an appropriate treatment would be.

However, being a MS physio with experience in, say SIJ problems, the solution doesn't lie in giving someone a hot pack, a massage and some general exercises. Nor does it lie with using U/S, I/F or SWD.

Fix the cause, not treat the symptoms (wherever possible)...;)