Electrotherapy
Electrotherapy is used by physiotherapists to provide pain relief, promote healing for problems of the soft tissue or stimulate the muscles fibres to activate.
The main methods of electrotherapy used at the Wimbledon Physiotherapy Clinic to complement our manual approach and exercise prescription are as follows:
Compex (Neuromuscular electric stimulation (NMES))
Muscle Stimulation is an artificial way of activating a muscle. If you are recovering from an injury or suffer from arthritis your muscles can start to atrophy (waste away). The Compex can be the ideal tool to start your road to recovery as it can stimulate the muscles to work and gain strength without causing pain to your injury or arthritis. It mimics the impulses sent from the brain and the muscle reacts accordingly.
Our trained staff can manipulate the frequency of the impulses to provide these benefits:
| Enhancing muscle recruitment |
| Increased muscle volume and strength |
| Pain relief |
| Reduce swelling |
We have numerous Compex units in the Wimbledon clinic, some of which we loan out to patients for home use. This allows you to enhance your recover by using muscle stimulation while doing your home exercise programme.
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)
This is a very safe method of electrotherapy which we use in the clinic, and loan for home. It provides pain relief by blocking nerve signals carrying pain messages to the brain. TENS also stimulates the production of endorphins – our natural pain relieving hormones.
Electro-Acupuncture
Electro-acupuncture is a form of acupuncture where a small electric current is passed between pairs of acupuncture needles. As with traditional acupuncture, needles are inserted on specific points along the body. The frequency and intensity of the impulse being delivered, depending on the condition being treated.
It can be more beneficial than traditional acupuncture because the current delivered through the needle stimulates a larger area than the needle itself.
Ultrasound
With an ultrasound machine high frequency sound waves are used to treat injuries to muscles, tendons and soft tissues. The sound waves pass through the skin causing the tissues in the affected area to vibrate.This can helps to:
- Improve blood flow to the injured site
- Increase the breakdown of scar tissue
- Decrease pain
- Encourage the healing process.
