Electrotherapy Uses and Benefits
Electrotherapy is a recognized modality in rehabilitative care for:
- Pain management
- Treatment of neuromuscular dysfunction
- Tissue repair
- Improving joint mobility
- Treatment of edema, acute and chronic
- Treatment of fecal and urinary incontinence
- Treating abnormal peripheral blood flow
- Treatment of atrophy
At Aspen, we use it mainly to relax muscle, prevent spasm, reduce pain, increase circulation, rehabilitate muscle, and improve range of motion.
Electrotherapy Devices
Three stimulation devices emit electricity, each with its own waveform, frequency, and effect. All deliver stimulation to muscle and nerve through adhesive pads on the skin.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
The most commonly used of the three. Intensity adjusts from low (under 10 Hz) to high (60–200 Hz). High-frequency stimulation may be bearable for hours but the relief doesn’t last long; low-frequency may only be tolerable for up to 30 minutes but the relief lasts longer. Electrodes can sit near the pain, over it, on the opposite side of the body, or over the nerve transmitting it.
Interferential current (IFC)
Often used when TENS hasn’t given relief. A 4,000 Hz carrier waveform pierces skin and muscle far deeper than TENS. As intensity increases you’ll feel a tingling on the skin, or something closer to deep massage when the device is treating muscle. That’s expected.
What Are the Side Effects?
Uncommon, but they occur:
- Allergic reaction
- Cardiac arrhythmia in patients with heart problems or a pacemaker
- Low blood pressure
- Fetal damage if the pads are placed over the uterus during pregnancy
TENS can be used at home. Before you do, talk to your chiropractor — call (541) 343-3477. We’ll show you how to use the device, test which intensity works for you, and go through the safety guidelines. Electrodes should never be placed over the heart, throat, uterus during pregnancy, open wounds, or irritated skin.
Electrotherapy is one of the techniques within our chiropractic services. It can also be used alongside physical rehabilitation as you rebuild strength.
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Why Choose Aspen Chiropractic
- The same care team every visit. You aren’t handed to a different provider each time, which matters most on a long claim.
- Insurance handled in house. You open the claim; we take the billing, documentation, and communication from there.
- Evaluation before technique, every time. We don’t guess at the cause. We assess for it, then choose the method the findings support.
- A full team under one roof. Two Doctors of Chiropractic, five licensed massage therapists, and three certified chiropractic assistants.
Meet the Aspen care team — the doctors and staff you’ll see at every visit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is electrotherapy?
Electrotherapy uses electrical stimulation, delivered through pads on the skin, to reduce pain. It blocks pain signals directly and prompts the body to release its own endorphins.
What does electrotherapy do?
At Aspen, electrotherapy is used mainly to relax muscle and prevent spasm. It also reduces pain, increases circulation, rehabilitates muscle, and improves range of motion.
What’s the difference between TENS and interferential current (IFC)?
TENS is the more common device, with intensity adjustable from low to high frequency — lower frequencies are less tolerable for long stretches, but the relief lasts longer. IFC uses a higher-frequency wave that reaches deeper into muscle, and it’s often used when TENS alone hasn’t helped.
Is electrotherapy safe if I have a pacemaker?
Cardiac arrhythmia is a known side effect in patients with heart problems or a pacemaker. This needs a conversation with your chiropractor before use. Call (541) 343-3477 to discuss your case before starting.
Schedule an Evaluation
Call (541) 343-3477 or schedule online. We’ll tell you what we find and what we’d do next.
Accident patients: open your insurance claim first, then call with the claim number.