Electrical Stimulation

E-stim: Method

-Start at 0 and gradually increase responding to patient's reaction

-Pos & neg leads on same side of body, do not cross midline or go from front of body to back

-Intensity of current should be increased by adjusting stimulation very slowly

-10-20 min, some have been 4-5 hours

-Stainless steel, 32 gauge/#5

-2 points complete circuit. If only 1 point, then 2nd electrode can be held in hand or taped to skin

E-stim: Cautions

-Strongly recommended that it's not for those with pacemakers or other electric implants; also may be problem for patients with seizure disorders & H disease

-Caution in region of heart

-Guard against patients fainting

-Points on face, below elbows & around knees are more sensitive

-High frequencies or high amplitudes may induce stress, be careful with HTN

E-stim: Contraindications

-No silver needles

-Do not cross wires over midline of body or from front to back of body

-Never on lower body or leg points of pregnant woman, esp during 3rd trimester

-Not for use with warm needle for patients with HTN

best size needle for estim

32 gauge or Japanese #5

length of estim treatment

10-20 (20-30) minutes

estim special care points

ST8, ST9, ST12

UB2, UB10

Ren 14, Ren 15, Ren 17, Ren 18

Du15 thru Du25

E-stim: Points to be careful

S 8, S 9, S 12, B 2, B 10, Ren 14, Ren 15, Ren 17, Ren 18, Du 15, Du 25

estim for pregnancy

never use on lower body or leg, esp during third trimester

E-stim: High frequency w/ constant stimulation

-Best to drain excess, alleviate pain & then stop spasms

estim for drain excess, pain, spasms

high frequency + constant stimulation

E-stim: Dispersing or lower frequency & continuous wave

-For paralysis, early stroke & numbness

-Bell's Palsy but only immediately after occurrence

estim for paralysis, early stroke, numbness

dispersing or low frequency and continuous

E-stim: Lower frequency w/ alternating quick & slow stimulation

-Def

-Preferred for paralysis or numnbess

-Neuralgia & nervous paralysis

estim for deficiency, paralysis, numbness

low frequency + alternating quick and slow stimulation

E-stim: Dense/Continuous & fast wave

-Stop pain or trauma

-Used for electro-anesthesia

estim for pain, trauma, anesthesia

dense or continuous and fast

E-stim: Mixed

-Combo of dense & dispersing (DD) waves

-Chronic pain, muscle weakness, stroke, tissue regeneration, inflammation, edema, MS, chronic cases of Bell's Palsy

estim for chronic pain, muscle weakness, stroke, tissue regeneration, inflammation, edema, MS, chronic Bell's Palsy

mixed (dense + dispersing/continuous + low frequency)

E-stim: Discontinuous

-Combo of DD/mixed or slow frequency frequency waves

-Severe paralysis, spinal nerve injury, trauma, more severe motor nerve injuries

estim for severe paralysis, spinal nerve injury, trauma, or more severe motor nerve injuries

discontinuous (mixed + slow)

E-stim: holding urine

-High frequency

E-stim: Incontinence

-Lower frequency