EStim Application Techniques

Lecture 2

line, battery

Machines are ______ or _____ powered

IFC, Premod, Russian, High Volt, ETC

Different waveforms include: (5)

Current Voltage

_______ adjusts the pending resistance through each tissue it transmits through but intensity might not be met

• amps change with each new tissue’s impedance level

Constant Current

______ is when voltage adjusts for consistent physiologic response but there might be potential pain

• amps stay the same and voltage varies through each tissue to keep amps constant

• most common in PT

Pulse Duration

______ is measured in microseconds

subsensory, sensory, motor, noxious

The strength duration curve has 4 thresholds (______, ______, ______, and _______ ) where either intensity is increased to meet next threshold or duration is increased to meet next threshold

deeper, smaller

higher intensity will cause the current to reach _____ into the tissue AND will excite (smaller/larger) fibers AND excite fibers farther away

smaller, farther

longer duration will excite (smaller/larger) fibers AND excite fibers (closer/farther)

Frequency

_____ is the number of pulses/cycle per second

• can be labeled as “RATE”

• determines type of mm. contraction

• related to fatigue

Carrier Frequency

_______ in newer machines is set and PTs cannot change it (typically 2500 Hz)

Russian Current

_______ is a sinusoidal waveform delivered in bursts or series of pulses

recruitment, smoother

Ramp Up/Down allows for a more gradual increase in muscle fiber _______ AND _______muscle contraction

FALSE!!

T/F: electrodes aren’t important when it comes to linking the device and patient together

Carbon Electrodes

_______ must be strapped onto patient but are a great alternative f patient has adhesive allergy or skin sensitivity

Surface/Transcutaneous, Invasive/Indwelling

The two classes of electrodes are _______ and ______

18-20

The typical lifespan of reusable electrodes is ______ applications

clean skin, shave hair, NO ALCOHOL

PREP for reusable electrodes includes: (3)

goal

Correct size of electrode is determined by treatment _____ and size of area to be stimulated

False; inversely

T/F: Electrode surface area is directly related to current density

Current Density

______ is the current per unit area of the electrode

largest

The general guidelines for electrodes is the ______ electrode that achieves optimal contraction AND but avoids overflow

full, motor point, longitudinally

PLACEMENT: ensure _____ surface of electrode is in contact // place over ______ (greatest motor response) // _______ over muscle belly

Interelectrode Distance

________ is the distance between electrodes

• closer together = less depth of current

• farther apart = more depth of current

Electrodes should be placed at least 2 finger-widths apart

Monopolar Arrangement

______ is most commonly used with DC and monophasic pulsed currents