Mettler Electronics Sonicator Plus 930 - Bipolar Electrode Placement Technique; Monopolar Electrode Placement Technique

Sonicator Plus 930 Instruction Manual— Rev.J_09/13/17
31
Figure 4.4—Bipolar Electrode
Placement Technique
4. Bipolar electrode placement techniques
Bipolar electrode placement techniques should be
used to provide stimulation to larger muscle groups,
such as the quadriceps or the hamstrings. The
symmetrical waveforms of the “Premodulated”and
“Medium Frequency” waveforms are usually applied
to the body using the bipolar technique.
Equal size electrodes are placed at each end of the
muscle or muscle group. Current concentration is
over the entire length of that muscle or muscle group
and especially effective on weak musculature.
Electrode placement should be at opposite ends of the
limb or muscle group. Care should be taken to insure
that electrodes are not placed too close together which
could produce current concentration along the edges
of the pads. This is the so-called “edging effect”
which can cause patient discomfort. The figure on the
left shows a pad set up for stimulation of the quad-
riceps.
Figure 4.5—Monopolar
Electrode Placement
Technique
5. Monopolar electrode application techniques
Monopolar techniques may be used with the
“Premodulated”and “Medium Frequency”
waveforms. The smaller, active, electrode is placed
over the muscle motor point. In treatments designed
to relieve pain, the active electrode is placed over the
painful area. The larger, dispersive, electrode is
placed on the same side of the body at some point
distal to the active electrode. The dispersive pad is
generally three to four times larger than the active
electrode so that current density is too low to cause
muscle contractions under the dispersive electrode.
Never place the dispersive electrode over the
antagonist muscle.
The monopolar electrode placement technique has
been found to be especially useful for muscle
stimulation of the upper extremities and small muscle
groups. This technique helps concentrate the
stimulation effect on the muscle under the smaller
electrode. The figure on the left illustrates one
possible electrode placement for muscle stimulation
of the forearm.