Electrode Therapy for Back Pain

Electrode therapy uses low levels of electricity to stimulate back muscles with the goals of faster healing and pain relief.

Types

• Electrotherapy for the back can be administered by means of different waveforms and frequencies. The most common is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which uses adjustable frequencies and alternating current. The other types are interferential current, which is similar to TENS but can penetrate the skin more deeply, and galvanic stimulation, which uses direct current.

Administration

• All three types of electrotherapy can be administered by a doctor or at home by the patient. The patient can control the intensity and frequency of the therapy.

TENS

• With TENS, the patient can choose high- or low-frequency stimulation. High-frequency stimulation can be tolerated for hours, but yields a shorter period of pain relief compared with low-frequency treatment. However, low-frequency stimulation can be uncomfortable—typically it's tolerated only for 20 to 30 minutes.

Interferential Current

• Interferential current also uses high-frequency stimulation but can penetrate the skin more deeply compared with TENS. Devices that use interferential current are more expensive than TENS units.

Galvanic Stimulation

• If your back pain is caused by major tissue damage, galvanic stimulation is more effective than TENS. This therapy works by using a direct current, rather than alternating current. It reduces swelling and promotes better circulation.