Interferential currents
The interferential current is a sinusoidal current alternated to medium frequencies (2500 Hz, 4000
Hz, or 10000 Hz), modulated in amplitude, characterized by a high ability to penetrate tissues and
by an optimal tolerability, even in particularly sensitive patients. The analgesic action of bipolar
interferential currents, with frequency of modulation included between 0 and 200 Hz, is connected
to the mechanism of the gate control (peripheral block of the pain transmission) and to the
stimulation of the inhibitory mechanism. Furthermore, also the removal of the substances that cause
pain of the affected region is involved, as it happens for TENS current. By varying the frequency of
employed modulation, also an effect of motor stimulation can be exploited, that contributes to the
return of the venous flow activating the “muscle pump”. They are called interferential currents
because they originate and interfere with the tissues in points in which two intermediate frequency
currents meet.
Clinical Applications
The interferential current is particularly indicated for arthrosis of the deep articulations (hip, lumbar
rachides), deep tendinopathies and for the muscular hypotrophy of normally innervated and deep
muscles. The interferential current is basically used in physiotherapy for antalgic and excitomotor
aims.
Therapeutic effects
Excitomotor effect: it may provokes the contraction of normally innervated and deep muscles.
Analgesia: it could provoke vasodilatation, which, through the increase of the local blood flow,
would remove the algogenic substances from the tissues.
The guide lines for the applications of the electrodes are identical to those supplied for the TENS.
Russian currents (kotz)
Russian currents consist of a sine wave of intermediate frequency (2500 Hz), modulated in
packages of work and rest each of 10 ms duration. To avoid early muscle fatigue, occurring after
about 12/15 s of continuous stimulation, Kotz established that the maximum duration of the
working phase should be of 10 seconds (with a duty cycle of 1:5). Like other currents of
intermediate frequency, Russian currents programs facilitate penetration into deeper muscles and
may be preferred to low frequency currents (e.g. rectangular biphasic and faradic).
Electrode application and placement
Electrodes for Russian currents are applied in the same manner as for EMS and TENS treatments.
The current should be increased gradually until it provokes muscle contraction.
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