Interferential for muscle contraction

[jburke75]

Was after some advice on the best setting to use interferential for muscle contraction. I have seen it used effectively to elicit repetative contractions in cases of muscle spasm, apparently to fatigue the muscle and get it to "let go"

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[Physiobase]

IF is a particularly weak current to use for mm contraction, although it is more comfortable. You would find the lower beat frequencies (say 25Hz, motor range 10-50 Hz I think?) more effective in eliciting a contraction at lower current/voltage than higher settings. The lower the beat the more twitch contractions, the higher the more tetanic contraction.

At a treatment frequency (not beat frequency) of 3200Hz the skin impedance is 50 Ohms, whilst at 4000Hz it is reduced to 40 Ohms, thus letting more energy pass through the tissue to deeper muscles. This in turn means that less intensity is required to get the same effect. If you have an option for a higher frequency then perhaps take that option as well.

It might be better to use Russian Stim or other EMS currents. Working out the ramp time and on/off time to account for fatigue and PT effort should also be explored. The machines are getting pretty good now. I saw one only this week that has combined EMG/mm stim that you can use to make the patient work to a certain level of EMG before the stim. kicks in and helps them on there way. Pretty nifty

[somasimple]

Hi,

IF is a particularly weak current to use for mm contraction

What are you saying there?

[Physiobase]

I mean it is not particularly useful in weak muscles, nothing more. There are more effective currents for eliciting a contraction of the muscle. Of course it is a medium frequency current, so it's "stronger than TENS" but weaker than a 240V mains plug

[somasimple]

You're totally right the strongest current that may be used is... Brain :lol

I was a "fan" of Estim and TENS but forgot it!

[callphysio]

IFT can be used fr various purposes but 2 main criteria r 1)pain relief
2)muscle strengthening(basically to maintain contractility of ms along wd pt. effort
higher d frequency lower d resistance hence lower intensity required.you r correct in saying that but if ur aim is to get better ms contraction & u want pt to contract along wd that the choose base frequency of 2Khz.:hat
other options r
1)faradic
2)russian-requires long sessions to be able to show sm hypertrophy

[HygeiaUK]

In my experience fatiguing a muscle does not make it let go, it just weras it out and then the muscle can micro tear. Another approach might be to review the cause of the underlying muscle contraction. Muscle contraction is often protective, and /or habitual. Taking a contracted muscle into its pattern can release the physiology.

[sdkashif]

Any form of current that is applied through the surface electrodes to deliver the current through the skin to the underlying tissues is know as TENS or Trancutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Interferential current is the transcutaneous application of alternating medium frequency currents, amplitude modulated at low frequency for therapeutic purposes.

Indication for use of Interferential are as under:

1- Pian relief
2-Tissue healing
3-Muscle stimulation
4-Circulatory

The mechanisn of pain relief with interferential is comparable to a TENS unit. Sensory level, motor level and noxiuos level mode of electrical stimulation may be used to get the desired pain relief.

Because of its low frequency component interferential current is claimed to offer similar therapeutic benefits to the healing process as the low frequency electrical stimulation.

The muscle stimulation produced by the interferential is more comfortable as compared to the low frequency currents. As skin resistance becomes lower with IF so it has the added benefit of stimulating the deep muscles like pelvic floor muscle re education.

Interferential is claimed to cause the depolarization of the autonomic nerves so causes the vasodilatation of the blood vessels. Hence it increases the blood flow with out warming the muscles.

For optimal muscle contraction use the beat frequency of 0-10 beats per second.

Amplitude modulation or sweep frequency can itself be modulated by frequency. The AMF can be made to alternate over a set range by manipulation of the sweep frequency control-the original AMF becomes the base frequency, e.g. 100Hz. Applying a sweep frequency of 10Hz will result in a AMF varying between 100Hz and 10 Hz. The medium frequency will vary correspondingly between 4050 and 4055 Hz. Also use patient comfort and tolerance as a guide to the frequency mode chosen.

[A Larsen]

Hi
This combined EMG/mm stim sounds just like what I have been looking for. Who is offering this device?

[Physiobase]

Chattanooga. Check out the lin below
Vectra® Genisys Units 8o