Electrotherapies

Therapeutic Ultrasound

Therapeutic Ultrasound is quite different to ultrasound used for imaging purposes - unfortunately my US machine can't show you images of your insides! It does however utilise similar principles, by firing 'ultrasonic' sound waves into the tissues it alters the physiology of target area. The targeted firing of US waves can have both thermal and non-thermal effects by causing vibrations and thus a warming effect in the targeted area. Benefits of therapeutic US include:

Pain relief
Decreased joint stiffness
Increased collagen extensibility
Increased blood flow
Stimulation of tissue regeneration
Stimulation of protein synthesis

H-Wave

As a practitioner, this is one of my most used bits of kit. it is primarily used in equine physiotherapy to treat areas of tension, especially through the back. H-wave produces a muscle pump effect in the target muscles by generating artificial muscle contractions. This in turn improves blood flow and helps to remove remove toxins causing muscle pain and tension. H-wave is also able to produce a strong analgesic effect which is used in acutely painful cases. Benefits of H-wave include:

Pain relief
Decreased muscle tension
Muscle conditioning
Increased blood flow

NMES

The name NMES stands from NeuroMuscular Stimulation Device, and like the H-wave, the effects of this machine stem from artificial stimulation of the muscles. The NMES device however has a different use from the other muscle stim devices, instead of pain relief, this device is used to strengthen muscles that have dramatically weakened. Benefits of NMES include:

Increased muscle strength
Increased muscle mass
Improved muscle endurance
Increased blood flow