What are the parameters of IFT?
Interferential therapy (IFT) is a popular electrotherapeutic modality for pain management. It is characterized by the interference of 2 medium-frequency currents (ie, 1–10 kHz), which combine to produce a new medium-frequency current whose amplitude is modulated at low frequency (ie, <1 kHz).
What type of current does IFC use?
IFC modulates a high frequency (4000 Hz), versus TENS which typically delivers at 125 Hz. When current is applied to skin, skin resistance decreases as pulse frequency increases. Thus, IFC crosses the skin with greater ease and with less stimulation than with TENS.
What is IFC on my TENS unit?
Inferential current (IFC) Developed in the 1950s, IFC is most commonly used for pain relief (Kitchen, 2001). IFC is also claimed to reduce inflammation, and assist tissue repair (including bone fractures), and reeducate muscle (especially with incontinence).
What is the principle of IFT?
The basic principle of Interferential Therapy (IFT) is to utilise the significant physiological effects of low frequency (≅<250pps) electrical stimulation of nerves without the associated painful and somewhat unpleasant side effects sometimes associated with low frequency stimulation.
How do you use interferential current?
Electrodes are placed on your skin around the injured body part. The Interferential Current device then transmits electrical impulses in minute quantities through your skin. Underlying tissue and nerves are stimulated which begins the healing properties. These impulses are not painful in the least.
Does IFC work?
Fourteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. Conclusion: Interferential current as a supplement to another intervention seems to be more effective for reducing pain than a control treatment at discharge and more effective than a placebo treatment at the 3-month follow-up.
What is IFC good for?
Frequencies produced by the IFC have been proven to stimulate endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers. This can help to create a self-healing process without the need to for medications. This form of therapy is also extremely useful in reducing pain, inflammation, curing edema, and spasms.
What does IFC feel like?
It may sound intimidating, but IFC is safe and effective, and patients report it causes less discomfort than other forms of electrical stimulation, describing the feeling as a tingling or “pins and needles” sensation.
Why is IFC better than TENS?
TENS delivers low-frequency current across the surface of the skin, while IFC delivers a higher frequency current that penetrates deeper into the tissue with less discomfort.
What is IFT in physiotherapy?
Interferential therapy (IFT) is a commonly used modality in physiotherapy practice for pain relief. Pain relief is believed to be achieved through the production of endogenous opioids like endorphins and enkephalins.
Does interferential current work?
Interferential current therapy is an effective therapy option used by many physiotherapy clinics to relieve pain and accelerate the self-healing process, getting your body back to a healthy, pain free state. The high frequency signals of an IFC penetrate through the skin into deeper lying muscle tissues.
Which is more effective IFC or premodulated IFC?
IFC has been shown to be effective for treating multiple types of pain in locations throughout the body. 1,2 Both traditional IFC and PREMOD IFC can be done at sensory and motor levels. Sensory settings provide segmental pain relief that is fast-acting and lasts for several hours.
How is the intensity of IFC therapy controlled?
IFC treatment uses patient-specific feedback and is controlled with an intensity dial by the provider. Like most forms of electrostimulation, it suffers from “accommodation,” whereby the provider often needs to increase the intensity to counteract the physiological tolerance that develops during a treatment session.
When to use IFC First for muscle spasms?
When it comes to reducing tight muscles stemming from muscle guarding, muscle spasms, myofascial pain syndrome, fibromyalgia, fascial restrictions, and trigger points, my clinical nod goes to IFC first ( Table 1 ).
How long should IFC be applied for physiomontreal?
Duration of Treatment -IFC usually applied for 10-15 minutes-treatment at a normal intensity should not be given to one area for longer than 20minutes-if more than one area is to be treated è total time should not exceed 30 min.**too long a Rx makes pt. unacceptably tired later in the day!**
