Course Description: Therapeutic Modalities 212 is a text-based course designed to increase the knowledge of the clinician who is working with electrical currents for soft tissue healing and for pain control. Electricity has been used to enhance wound healing and to help control pain for many centuries, however in order to apply this modality safely and effectively, the clinician must understand various principles. The first part of this course will focus on the use of electrical currents for soft tissue healing and the second part of the course will highlight the use of electrical currents for pain control.

Source: Physical Agents in Rehabilitation from Research to Practice, 5 th edition, by Michelle Cameron

Source Description: With straightforward, in-depth coverage of the use of physical agents to improve patient outcomes, Physical Agents in Rehabilitation: An Evidence-Based Approach to Practice, 5th Edition reflects how physical agents and modalities are being discussed in the classroom. This new edition brings the ideal balance of evidence and practical instruction to the learning and practice of physical agents in rehabilitation. Comprehensive coverage of all physical agents includes the mechanisms, clinical effects, and application techniques for thermal agents, ultrasound, electrical currents, electromagnetic radiation, hydrotherapy, traction, and compression. Plus, each chapter includes a scientific rationale and step-by-step instructions in the use of the agent(s), as well as up-to-date research support and new Find the Evidence tables.

Course length: 3 contact hour / 0.3 ceus

Course Outline

Hour #1

• Mechanisms Underlying Electrical Current Use for Pain Control
  • Gate Control
  • Opioid Release
  • Selecting Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
  • Approaches
• Clinical Applications of Electrical Currents for Pain Control
  • Acute Pain
  • Chronic Pain
• Contraindications and Precautions for Electrical Currents for Pain Control
  • Contraindications for Electrical Currents for Pain Control
  • Precautions for Electrical Currents for Pain Control
• Adverse Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
• Application Techniques
• Documentation
  • Examples
• Clinical Case Studies

Hour #2

• Mechanisms Underlying Electrical Currents for Tissue Healing
  • Galvanotaxis
  • Cell Activation
  • Antimicrobial Effects
  • Enhanced Circulation
• Clinical Applications of Electrical Stimulation for Soft Tissue Healing
  • Chronic Wounds: Pressure Ulcers, Diabetic Ulcers, Venous Ulcers
  • Edema Control

Hour #3

• • Transdermal Drug Delivery: Iontophoresis
• Contraindications and Precautions for Electrical Currents for Tissue Healing
  • Contraindications for Electrical Currents for Tissue Healing
  • Precautions for Electrical Currents for Tissue Healing
• Adverse Effects of Electrical Currents for Tissue Healing
• Application Techniques
• Documentation
  • Examples
• Clinical Case Studies