'Current' trends in rehab therapy: once considered as part of a sports medicine program, electrotherapy modalities are getting long-term care residents back in the game. Mark Richards explains how.

For decades, electrotherapy has been used to help professional athletes and weekend warriors recover from strains, sprains, pain, and injuries. Today, that same sports medicine approach is being offered to seniors.

Electrotherapy is effective for people of all ages. Generally speaking,

seniors tend to respond to three types of electrotherapy used in long-term care: electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and diathermy (which involves generating localized heat in body tissues). It is one thing to get a football player back in the game, but it's an entirely different achievement for a senior to regain the ability to walk or to feed, dress, and groom herself.

Electrotherapy in Long-Term Care Rehab

Rarely is electrotherapy used as stand-alone therapy. It is another option in the therapy toolbox that the clinician can incorporate into the patient's treatment plan to achieve optimum results. For instance, if a patient has had a total knee replacement, pain may limit how far the knee can be stretched or how much exercise the therapist can administer to improve range of motion (ROM). When, in conjunction with the therapeutic exercise program, the patient is treated with one of the electrotherapy modalities, he or she can better tolerate the ROM and strengthening exercises because swelling and pain have been reduced. In essence, electrotherapy does not replace therapy, but facilitates it.

The FDA has approved 11 different electrical stimulation waveforms, which gives the clinician flexibility in treatment options. With this range of acceptable waveforms, the therapist can select the one best suited for the individual and the condition. The energy provided by electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and short-wave diathermy machines helps to reduce swelling and pain, and increases circulation, which stimulates the cells to heal damaged tissue.

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Ultrasound and diathermy machines also have variables that allow the clinician to individualize treatment. For instance, the machines can be adjusted to provide the exact depth of energy penetration and thermal response required, depending on whether the tissue requires heating or not. But as flexible and effective as these machines are, clinicians must receive good training and ongoing support for modality use to reach their full potential.

Contraindications and Risks