Introduction to physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy is the evaluation, diagnosis, and use of physical therapies to treat diseases, impairments, and disorders. Physical therapists employ a wide range of equipment to address a variety of conditions and disabilities. These types of equipment are referred to as physiotherapy equipment. The majority of these technologies and equipment are mostly used to quickly and conveniently execute everyday activities. Different therapies are employed to treat various body sections.
A wide variety of equipment is employed by physiotherapists in their work, including electric stimulators, cryotherapy machines, laser treatment units, and pressure therapy units.
A list of frequently used techniques is provided below:
Electric Stimulators
Electrotherapy equipment exposes the human body to a variety of electrical currents (of varied frequency and amplitude). They are frequently used to treat pain and for athletic conditioning and recuperation (improving the performance of healthy muscles and rehabilitating disrupted muscle functions), but they are also applied in urogynecology to treat incontinence and several prolapses.
Ultrasound Stimulators
Ultrasound stimulators, also known as ultrasound diathermy units, transmit ultrasound waves to treat pain and inflammatory degenerative conditions in the tendons and joints.
Heat Therapy and Cryotherapy Devices
Heat therapy units employ heat and cold to treat conditions like pain, inflammation, edema, skin lesions, and torn muscles. Machines for cryotherapy, on the other hand, only apply cold therapy.
Tecar Therapy Devices
Tecar therapy involves combining a capacitive and resistive mode while sending a high-frequency current that oscillates between frequencies of 300 kHz and 1 MHz. Promoting cellular regeneration and cicatrization helps alleviate edema and inflammation. Joint pain can also be treated with it.
Physical Therapy Lasers
Lasers used in physical treatment have particular intensities and wavelengths. They are applied in cases of sports injuries and arthritic pathologies. There are High-Power Laser Therapy devices (HPLT devices) and Low-Level Laser Therapy devices (LLLT devices) available.
Magnetic Therapy Devices
Through tissue penetration, magnetic waves produced by magnetic treatment equipment control biological processes. These devices’ more recent types frequently use pulsed electromagnetic fields to perform.
Pressure Therapy Devices
By applying pressure to the targeted limbs with air-filled cells that inflate and deflate, pressure therapy devices promote blood and lymphatic circulation. They can be applied for muscle healing, lymphatic drainage, cellulite reduction, varicose vein prevention, and water retention.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) Devices
Radial shock waves are delivered by shock wave treatment generators, which enhance circulation and metabolic activity. These are employed to treat tendinopathies, calcifications, osteoarthritis of the knee, shoulder, tibia, Achilles tendon, and heel pain.
Many of the above-mentioned devices can be combined into physiotherapy equipment.
What Type of Electrical Stimulator should you pick?
When selecting an electric stimulator, there are a variety of factors to consider, including the type of current provided, the device’s portability, and the battery’s endurance. Listed below are the crucial standards to take into account:
Types of electrical stimulation:
- EMS (electronic muscle stimulation) Physiotherapy: This refers to applying electrodes to a group of muscles. The EMS device’s electrical pulses assist athletes in gaining muscle mass.
- TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) Physiotherapy: A high-frequency signal is transmitted to the afflicted location during this procedure to relieve pain. The nerves are activated by the TENS unit. Osteoarthritis pain, joint and muscle pain, back pain, migraines, neuralgia, and contractures brought on by stress are all treated with it.
- NMES (neuromuscular electrical stimulation) Physiotherapy: The purpose of this therapy is to stimulate weakened or injured muscles.
- Galvanic Current: To treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), this method involves submerging the hands or feet in a bath of water that has a galvanic current flowing through it.
The overall number of independent channels:
One channel is defined as each pair of electrodes that allows for the activation of a certain muscle group. An electric stimulator’s ability to support several simultaneous electrostimulation sessions depends on the number of channels it has.
Power source:
- Battery operated: Electric stimulators that run on batteries frequently only have two channels. Although they are considerably affordable, you must frequently replace the batteries.
- Battery or accumulator: Rechargeable battery- or accumulator-powered devices require a larger financial investment but permit more frequent and intensive use.
- Mains-powered or fast-charge battery: These electric stimulators are only intended for usage by professionals.
- Battery capacity: Some battery-operated devices have a 20-hour runtime.
- Weight and functionality: Depending on the type of power source and functionality offered, electric stimulators may be more or less heavy.
What Type of Ultrasound Stimulator should you pick?
The number of channels, size, and frequency options are several of the factors that should be taken into consideration while selecting an ultrasound stimulator, commonly referred to as an ultrasound diathermy device. The key selection criteria are listed below:
- The number of channels: This ranges from one model to another.
- The size and ergonomics of the device: High-power devices are preferable for general usage; however, they are frequently larger as a result.
- Available frequencies: For professional use, the device must be able to provide at least two frequencies, 1 MHz and 3 MHz.
- Power: For fatty tissue, such as the thighs, it should be higher than 1.2 W/cm2, while for low-fat tissue, like the fingers, it should be below 1.2 W/cm2.
- Number of Transducers and Diameter: The component of the equipment that comes into contact with the skin is the ultrasonic transducer. The transducers’ size and number allow for a variety of applications. Although some manufacturers provide 1 cm, 2 cm, or 10 cm transducers as alternatives, their typical diameter is approximately 50 mm.
What Type of Pressure Therapy Device should you pick?
When selecting a pressure therapy device, there are a number of factors to take into account, including possible applications, target regions, and the option of setting specific pressure and time settings.
Determine the implementations:
- For which body parts will it be used? (For example, a pressure therapy unit for the legs, arms, or entire body, etc.).
- For what kinds of therapies will it be applied? (For example, promoting lymphatic drainage, venous circulation activation, preventing varicose veins, energizing cellulite-prone areas, preventing water retention, etc.).
- Who is going to use it? (Are they individuals or experts?)
Identify the configurable parameters:
- Modes available (continuous or sequential)
- The maximum intensity of pressure (in mmHg)
- Speed of Inflation
- The volume of inflated segments inside each sleeve.
- The interval between cycles
Why should you purchase Tecar Therapy Devices?
There are many benefits of Tecar Therapy, including quicker healing, quick pain relief, and enhanced vascularity. These are the important ones:
- Enhanced healing
- Immediate and long-lasting pain reduction: After the first session, observable results are possible. Sometimes the severe symptoms will go away, or at least be minimized, after just twenty minutes of treatment. Tecar treatment quickly reduces inflammation.
- Improved revascularization
- There are many additional potential implementations:
– Treating tendinopathies and inflammatory conditions
– Accelerating the recovery from muscle injuries
– Treating sprains and contractures
– Alleviating pain (i.e. lower back pain, etc.)
– Speeding up drainage (in the case of edema)
