Benefits Of Interferential Therapy In Treating Pain

Have you heard about the role of interferential therapy in pain management? Several physiotherapists recommend this therapy for localized muscle pain. Learn more about this effective technique to deal with pain.

Interferential current therapy (IFC), as the name suggests, makes use of electrotherapy to help patients manage pain. In short, it is an electrical stimulation treatment that applies two currents at varied frequencies. When it interferes within the body tissues, it tends to produce a third low-frequency current that can help treat muscle pain and injuries. Physiotherapists perform IFC on a patient only after a careful evaluation of his condition. Interferential therapy has been proven effective in relieving pain and accelerating the process of the body’s self-healing. This therapy is non-invasive and drug-free, and hence, it is gaining popularity for the treatment of pain. Often, IFC is combined with other pain management techniques to treat patients suffering from chronic or post-surgical pain.

Interferential current therapy is pain relief therapy widely used for sports injuries, among others. In this article, know more about how it works to aid in pain management.

How IFC Work?

An interferential therapy machine or IFT is used to give interferential current therapy. It works by continuously stimulating the affected tissue, thereby blocking pain signals and decreasing swelling or inflammation. The machine achieves a deep penetration within the affected tissues with the help of a 4000 Hz carrier.

After the doctor fixes the electrodes to the affected area, the machine delivers 10-15 minutes of therapy. You feel a tingling sensation, which is slight, nothing that can shock you. Its benefits in pain management are far and wide, but most doctors recommend this treatment only for localized muscle pain. But so far, the benefits seen in clinical applications include muscle stimulation, improved blood flow in the affected area, muscle stimulation, and decreased oedema.

When combined with other therapies, IFC can be repeated multiple times in a week for better results. It has proven to be effective in dealing with several pains and injuries, namely:

• Knee pain
• sports injuries
• back or shoulder pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Carpel tunnel syndrome
• Tennis elbow

Points To Remember

For patients suffering from severe health issues, this therapy may not be recommended. But for patients suffering from chronic pain in the knee, neck, shoulder, or back, this therapy can aid in temporary relief. Several physiotherapists recommend the use of IFC in pain management. This therapy has been effectively used for sports injuries in athletes. Even fitness consultants rely on this technique when they sudden pain after a heavy workout regime. Like all other medical treatments, this therapy can only be performed by a licensed practitioner.

It is not recommended for children below twelve years of age and pregnant women. Although, interferential therapy is devoid of any side effects. It is best to undertake this pain relief therapy for a minimum of seven days to witness effective results.