Back on Track | Interferrential

Interferential Electro-Therapy is a therapeutic treatment to aid in the relief of pain and the promotion of soft tissue healing. Ligament sprains, muscle strains and spasms often respond to this treatment, helping to reduce atrophy (muscle wastage) and increase blood circulation. Tiny amounts of electrical impulses are induced into the tissues in the vicinity of the injury. Where these waves intersect below the surface of the skin, a low-frequency stimulation is created. This prompts the body to secrete endorphins and other natural pain-killers to help relieve pain.

Interferential Electro-Therapy reduces painful symptoms, decreases local swelling, promotes muscle tone, restores normal movements, release the body's natural pain killers and accelerates the healing process.

Patient Benefits

Reduces painful symptoms

Decreases local swelling

Helps restore normal movements

Releases the body's natural painkillers

Accelerates the healing process

The basic principle of Interferential Therapy (I/F) is to utilize the strong physiological effects of low frequency (@ <250pps) electrical stimulation of muscle and nerve tissues without the associated painful and somewhat unpleasant side effects of such stimulation.

To produce low frequency effects at sufficient intensity at depth, most patients experience considerable discomfort in the superficial tissues (i.e. the skin). This is due to the resistance (impedance) of the skin being inversely proportional to the frequency of the stimulation.

In other words, the lower the stimulation frequency, the greater the resistance to the passage of the current & so, more discomfort is experienced. The skin impedance at 50Hz is approximately 3200W whilst at 4000Hz it is reduced to approximately 40W. The result of applying this latter frequency is that it will pass more easily through the skin, requiring less electrical energy input to reach the deeper tissues & giving rise to less discomfort.