Electrophysical therapy represents the administration of thermal, mechanical, electromagnetic and light energies for a specific therapeutic effect. Electrophysical therapies have been popular pain-relieving modalities for many years due to their broad applicable use without the unpleasant side effects of some oral anti-inflammatory medications and pain killers. These therapies are often used as a complementary treatment to manual therapy e.g. mobilisation or manipulation and exercises therapy.

What are the benefits of electrophysical therapy?

The benefits include but are not limited to:

• Decreases in pain
• Increases in range of motion
• Improvements in tissue healing
• Improvements in muscle activation and re-education
• Prevention or slowing tissue atrophy due to disuse

What are some common types of electrophysical therapy?

The more common types of electrophysical therapy used in the clinical setting are:

• Ultrasound Therapy
• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
• Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (PENS) AKA. Electro-dry needling
• Interferential Therapy
• Laser Therapy
• Shockwave Therapy

When is it wise NOT to have electrotherapy?

• Skin lesions
• Skin sensitivities
• Over impaired skin sensation
• Arterial Thrombosis
• Pacemakers
• Cancer diagnosis
• Pregnancy

If your treating practitioner believes that Electrophysical therapies are suitable for your case then it will typically be utilised with a combination of other techniques like mobilisations and exercises to optimise your recovery.