Practical Information: Chart Summary

Russian Current

Sensory, Motor, or Both: motor

Use: NMES muscle activation, strengthening

Waveform: burst-modulated AC

Pulse duration: 200-800 usec

frequency: 30-100 Hz

amplitude: max contraction

duration/duty cycle/treatment time: 10 sec on/50 sec off x >10 reps, 1-2 sec up and down

population it would benefit: elite athletes, post op. pt, neuromuscular conditions

High Voltage Pulsed Current

Sensory, Motor, or Both: motor and sensory

Use: pain modulation, wound healing

Waveform: twin-peaked monophasic pulsed

Pulse duration: 50-100 usec

frequency: 1-100 Hz

amplitude: sensory: perceivable level; motor: 150-500 Hz visible motor response

duration/duty cycle/treatment time: 10-30 min (sensory), 1-30 min (motor), less than 1%

population it would benefit: post surgery and chronic pain

Interferential Current

Sensory, Motor, or Both: both

Use: pain modulation, most. contraction (motor)

Waveform: amplitude-modulated AC

Pulse duration: 200-400 usec

frequency: fixed beat: 100 Hz, full spectrum: 10-150 Hz

amplitude: sensory level; 0-250 Hz

duration/duty cycle/treatment time: 10-20 min, 2-4 wks for 12 sessions, 20% duty cycle

population it would benefit: non opioid, deep defused pain

Microcurrent

Sensory, Motor, or Both: sensory

Use: wound healing

Waveform: low intensity, DC (direct current, micro amperage current)

Pulse duration: .5 sec or DC

frequency: 1 Hz, 1-1000 Hz

amplitude: less than 1 mA

duration/duty cycle/treatment time: minutes to hours

population it would benefit: wound care, diabetes, soft tissue

Symmetrical Biphasic (NMES/FES)

Sensory, Motor, or Both: motor

Use: NMES or FES: muscle activation, strengthening, or functional use

Waveform: square or triangular

Pulse duration: 200-800 usec

frequency: 20-60Hz

amplitude: NMES: max contraction >50%; FE: functional use

duration/duty cycle/treatment time: NMES: 10 sec on/50 sec off, for 10 reps; FES: activity dependent (1-3 endurance)

population it would benefit: innervated or deinnervated muscle, NMES: strength or endurance (MSK/neuro people)

Conventional TENS (High frequency current)

Sensory, Motor, or Both: sensory

Use: pain

Waveform: symmetrical, biphasic pulse

Pulse duration: 50-100 usec

frequency: 80-110 Hz

amplitude: sensory level; pt. tolerance

duration/duty cycle/treatment time: 30 min- 1 hr (continuous)

population it would benefit: acute pain, chronic pain, OA

Acupucture

Sensory, Motor, or Both: both

Use: pain tx (relief)

Waveform: symmetrical biphasic

Pulse duration: 150-200 usec

frequency: <10 Hz (1-4 Hz)

amplitude: motor level (rhymthic twitch)

duration/duty cycle/treatment time: 15-30 min, 1-2 sessions per wk

population it would benefit: chronic pain (non-opioid users)

brief intense current

Sensory, Motor, or Both: sensory

Use: pain debridement, local anesthesia, short local hypoglosia

Waveform: mono or biphasic pulse

Pulse duration: 150-200 usec

frequency: 100-150 Hz

amplitude: highest tolerance noxious level

duration/duty cycle/treatment time: <15 min; 30-60 sec each area

population it would benefit: other modes of tens have not worked or opioid users

Thermal Ultrasound

Frequency: 1 Hz, 3Hz, or 3.3Hz

Intensity: 1.5 w/cm²

duty cycle: 100%

Duration depends on area

Continuous

Nonthermal Ultrasound

Frequency: 1 Hz, 3Hz, or 3.3Hz

Intensity: 0.5 w/cm²

Duty Cycle: 20 or 50%

Duration: depends on area

Pulsed

• “on time” for pulse duration

• pulse period “on time + off time”