Faradic Current: Avanianban Chakkarapani Lecture 8 & 9 Venue:K 205 A 28.1.15 11.00 Am To 1.00 PM

FARADIC CURRENT
Avanianban Chakkarapani
Lecture 8 & 9
Venue:K 205 A
28.1.15
11.00 am to 1.00 pm
Learning Objectives:
The lecture aims to brief students about the following:
Nature of faradic currents.

Therapeutic & Physiological effects of faradic currents.
Techniques of application.
Indication & Contraindication.
Clinical applications of faradic currents.
Precaution & Dangers
Learning Outcomes:
Successful student therapist will be able to explain about
the following:
1.Explain about accommodation
2.Explain about the nature of faradic currents
3.Explain about the therapeutic and physiological effects
4.Techniques of application
5.Clinical applications of faradic currents.
Definition
It is a short-duration interrupted current, with a pulse
duration ranging from 0.1 and 1 ms and a frequency of 30
to 100 Hz.
Wave forms:
1. Induced asymmetrical alternating
current.
2. Biphasic, Asymmetrical,
Unbalanced, Spiked.
3. Positive portion- short duration, high

amplitude and
spiked.
4. Negative portion- long duration, low

amplitude and
curved
Modifications
Faradic currents are always surged for treatment
purposes to produce a near normal tetanic-like
contraction and relaxation of muscle.
Current surging means the gradual increase and decrease
of the peak intensity.
Forms of faradic current
Each represents one impulse:
* In surged currents, the intensity of the successive
impulses increases gradually, each impulse reaching a
peak value greater than the preceding one then falls either
suddenly or gradually.
* Surges can be adjusted from 2 to 5-second surge,
continuously or by regularly selecting frequencies from 6 to
30 surges / minute.
* Rest period (pause duration) should be at least 2 to 3
times as long as that of the pulse to give the muscle the
sufficient time to recover (regain its normal state).
Forms of faradic current
The most comfortable pulse is either 0.1-msec pulse, with
a frequency of 70 Hz or 1-msec pulse with a frequency of
50 Hz.
For practically all skeletal muscles, tetanic contraction
requires a minimum frequency of 7 Hz. Lower frequencies
result in separate contractions.
The most comfortable tetanic contractions are obtained
with frequencies between 40 and 80 Hz
Effects of faradic currents
1. Stimulation of sensory nerves:
It is not very marked because of the short duration.
It causes reflex vasodilatation of the superficial blood
vessels leading to slight erythema.
The vasodilatation occurs only in the superficial tissues.
2. Stimulation of the motor nerves:
It occurs if the current is of a sufficient intensity, causing
contraction of the muscles supplied by the nerve distal to
the point of stimulus.
A suitable faradic current applied to the muscle elicits a
contraction of the muscle itself and may also spread to
the neighboring muscles.
The character of the response varies with the nature and
strength of the stimulus employed and the normal or
pathological state of muscle and nerve.
2. Stimulation of the motor nerves:
The contraction is tetanic in type because the stimulus is
repeated 50 times or more / sec.
If this type is maintained for more than a short time,
muscle fatigue occurs.
So, the current is commonly surged to allow for muscle
relaxation i.e. when the current is surged, the contraction
gradually increases and decreases in strength in a
manner similar to voluntary contraction.
3. Stimulation of the nerve is due to producing a
change in the semi-permeability of the cell
membrane:
This is achieved by altering the resting membrane
potential.
When it reaches a critical excitatory level, the muscle
supplied by this nerve is activated to contract.
4. Faradic currents will not stimulate
denervated muscle:
The nerve supply to the muscle being treated must be

intact because the intensity of current needed to
depolarize the muscle membrane is too great to be
comfortably tolerated by the patient in the absence of the
nerve.
5. Reduction of swelling and pain:
It occurs due to alteration of the permeability of the cell

membrane, leading to acceleration of fluid movement in
the swollen tissue and arterial dilatation.
Moreover, it leads to increase metabolism and get red of
waste products.
6. Chemical changes:
The ions move one way during one phase of the current;
and in the reverse direction during the other phase of the
current if it is alternating.
If the two phases are equal, the chemicals formed during
one phase are neutralized during the next phase.
In faradic current, chemical formation should not be great
enough to give rise to a serious danger of burns because
of the short duration of impulses.
CONSTANT CURRENT (CC)
Relationship between potential (V), current (I) and resistance
(I) is expressed by Ohms law
V =I.R.
As the resistance of the skin fluctuates during treatment,
Ohms law implies that the current can increase (strongly),
resulting in an unpleasant sensation for the patient. With low-
frequency direct current types, this undesirable increase in
amplitude could cause damage of the skin.
Constant Current mode avoids these effects, as the selected
current amplitude is maintained at a constant value.
The constant Current principle is a good choice for stationary
techniques.
However, it can lead to problems in dynamic application
techniques
If the effective area of the electrode is continually changing
the patient will experience this as an increase in amplitude,
although, in fact, the amplitude does not increase.
The increased sensation of current is due to an increase in
the current density.
This is not only unpleasant for the patient, but can also lead
to an incorrect interpretation in electro diagnostics.
Constant voltage
In this case, if the effective electrode area is reduced,
which is equivalent to an increase in the resistance, the
amplitude will also be reduced
V:R=I
So that the current density remains the same. The patient
will experience no change in the sensation of current,
Application of faradic current
Muscle stimulation with faradic current the muscle must
have a good general innervation.
The current may be applied for both diagnostic and
therapeutic objectives.
Diagnostic objectives
Investigation of myasthenic reaction;
Investigation of myotonic reaction;
Localization of a neurapraxia(nerve compression) block.
Indications:
1. Facilitation of muscle contraction inhibited by pain:
Stimulation must be stopped when good voluntary
contraction is obtained.
2. Muscle re-education:
Muscle contraction is needed to restore the sense of
movement in cases of prolonged disuse or incorrect
use; and in muscle transplantation.
The brain appreciates movement not muscle actions,
so the current should be applied to cause the
movement that the patient is unable to perform
voluntarily.
3. Training a new muscle action:
After tendon transplantation, muscle may be required to

perform a different action from that previously carried out.
With stimulation by faradic current, the patient must
concentrate with the new action and assist with voluntary
contraction.
4. Nerve damage:
When a nerve is severed, degeneration of the axons
takes place after several days.
So, for a few days after the injury, the muscle contraction
may be obtained with faradic current.
It should be used to exercise the muscle as long as a
good response is present but must be replaced by
modified direct current as soon as the response begins to
weaken.
5. Improvement of venous and lymphatic
drainage:
In oedema and gravitational ulcers, the venous and
lymphatic return should be encouraged by the pumping
action of the alternate muscle contraction and relaxation.
6. Prevention and loosening of adhesions:
After effusion, adhesions are liable to form, which can be
prevented by keeping structures moving with respect to
each other.
Formed adhesions may be stretched and loosened by
muscle contraction.
7. Painful knee syndromes:
After trauma, there is inhibition of muscle contraction,
leading to muscle atrophy.
Contraindications:
Skin lesions: The current collects at that point causing pain.
Certain dermatological conditions: Such as psoriasis, tinea
and eczema.
Acute infections and inflammations.
Thrombosis.
Loss of sensation.
Cancer.
Cardiac pacemakers.
Superficial metals.
Methods of Application
Unipolar
Bipolar
Technique of Application
Group muscle stimulation; and
Motor Point stimulation.
Group Muscle Stimulation
Stationary stimulation
Active electrode & Passive electrode will be kept
stationary
Motor Point Stimulation
Precaution & Dangers
If the skin sensation is not normal, it is preferable to position the
electrodes at an alternative site which ensures effective circulation.
Avoid active epiphyseal regions in children.
Select stimulation parameters appropriate to the effect desired.
Inappropriate stimulation parameters may cause muscle damage,
reduction in blood flow through the muscle and low frequency
muscle fatigue.
Appropriate care should be taken to ensure that the level of muscle
contraction initiated does not compromise the muscle nor the
joint(s) over which it acts.
Patients with a history of epilepsy should be treated at the
discretion of the physiotherapist in consultation with the
appropriate medical practitioner.
Dangers
Burns
Electric shock
Hypovolemic shock
Reference
Thank You

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FARADIC CURRENT

The lecture aims to brief students about the following:

Nature of faradic currents.

3. Positive portion- short duration, high

4. Negative portion- long duration, low

The nerve supply to the muscle being treated must be

It occurs due to alteration of the permeability of the cell

After tendon transplantation, muscle may be required to

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