ACP OMNIVERSA - Stimulation Therapy Modes; Interferential Current Therapy (IFC)

- 84 - OMNIVERSA
®
MULTI-MODALITY THERAPY USER MANUAL
COPYRIGHT © 2017-2020, ACCELERATED CARE PLUS CORP., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
STIMULATION THERAPY MODES
Interferential Current Therapy (IFC)
The new Webster Encyclopedia Dictionary of the
English Language defines interference as “the
mutual action waves of any kind (water, sound,
heat or light) upon each other, by which the
vibrations and their effects are increased,
diminished or neutralized.”
As such, interferential current (IFC) therapy
requires at least two signal sources, which
“interfere” within the tissue to be treated. The
resulting interference of the generators generates
therapeutically useful stimulation of the area
undergoing treatment. Interferential current
therapy technique relies on amplitude differences
between two or more isolated independent signals
to produce fields of higher or lower intensity
within the tissue.
The purpose of interferential current therapy is to
provide deep tissue treatment, which is not
generally obtainable with conventional
electrotherapy approaches. Its primary
application is in the reduction of pain and in the
stimulation of increased blood flow in the deeper
tissues and muscles.
Simply stated, electric currents with frequencies in the range of 1000-10,000 Hz, known as medium frequency
currents, are run through the tissue to be treated when applied continuously. These frequencies inhibit nerve
conduction based on the fact that they cause temporary nerve membrane depolarization while present. This effect is
known as Wedensky Inhibition or nerve block. Medium frequency currents have an inhibitory effect on pain
transmission and sensation within the field of treatment. This effect is responsible for the decreased sensation under
the stimulation electrodes. Medium frequencies
are also selected due to their excellent tissue
penetration. This occurs as a result of the
decreased tissue resistance at higher frequencies.
IFC - Full Field Pre-modulated Mode:
If the medium frequency is modulated the signal
will stimulate the tissue and nerves at the
modulation burst rate.
The well-known attributes of modulated medium
frequency currents, i.e. deep tissue penetration,
asynchronous neural stimulation, and low tissue
resistance, allows the creation of an interferential
therapy system capable of both deep and
superficial stimulation with the goals of
maximizing sensory inputs. This technique is
referred to as full field interferential current
therapy. Full field amplitude summation
interferential current therapy relies on the addition
and subtraction of two intersecting currents within
the tissue. This effect is based on the relative
phase differences between the currents at different
FULL FIELD WEDENSKY INHIBITION
Ex. 5000 Hz
Three
zones of
Wedensky
Inhibition
RATE SCAN ON OR OFF
Range from 2,000 to 10,0000 with a default of
2500 or 5000 Hz Pulsed at 100Hz
ex. 5000 Hz
RATE SCAN ON OR OFF
2500 or 5000 Hz Pulsed at 100Hz
Ranges from 2,000 to
10,000 HZ with a default
to 5,000 Hz
Three zones of
sensory
stimulation
AMPLITUDE SUMMATION IFC TECHNIQUE
Ex. 5000 Hz Pulsed at 100Hz