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When a person has certain pathologies, it is necessary to use drugs that will help the body overcome the disease. Most often, drugs enter the body orally, through injections or droppers. But there are other ways to help quickly transport the drug to the right place. For example, electrophoresis. Judging from the name of the procedure, it becomes clear that it is carried out using electric current. Let’s take a closer look at the features and benefits of this technique.
The essence of the method
The essence of electrophoresis is the use of low-frequency currents, under the influence of which the charged particles of our body change the trajectory of their movement. This is what allows you to achieve the desired effect. An electric field that changes the direction of ion movement is generated by an external source.
This technique is often used for medical purposes, electrophoresis is included in the list of basic physiotherapy procedures. Following the therapeutic application of this method, he was successfully used in the cosmetology field.
Under the influence of currents of constant frequency with the use of an aqueous solution, the drug decomposes into ions. The currents pass not only through the drug solution, but also through the layers of the skin and mucous membranes, and this contributes to the penetration of the drug into the body.
The direct penetration of the drug into the body passes through the sweat and sebaceous glands located in the dermis. Having overcome the upper layer of the skin, the drug moves to the deeper layers, penetrates into the biological fluids – lymph and blood, and with their help spreads throughout the body.
The peculiarity of therapy lies in the fact that it is possible to achieve the highest concentration of particles of the drug in the area of influence. That is, where it is needed. If the patient suffers from acute pain in the back or joints, then electrophoresis using painkillers helps to quickly relieve pain. The currents have a positive effect on the metabolic processes in the tissues – first of all, the blood flow in the affected area is normalized. As a result, inflammatory processes and swelling pass faster, with minimal consequences for the body.
Advantages of the technique
Electrophoresis has a number of advantages over other methods of drug administration into the body. First of all, we are talking about the possibility of achieving the effect of the drug in the right area.
It is important to note that the medicinal substance, the introduction of which into the body was realized with the participation of an electric current, acts for a long period of time. This is because the skin accumulates particles of the drug, which will gradually penetrate into the deeper layers of the body and blood. As a result, when using electrophoresis, the dosage of drugs is much lower than with other methods of administration.
Another advantage of the technique is the delivery of the medicinal component directly to the place that needs such an impact. Under the influence of current, the drug is converted and enters the body in an active form, which helps to increase its effectiveness. At the same time, the integrity of the skin is not violated, and the procedure itself does not cause pain or discomfort. As a result, we can say that such therapy is associated with a minimal risk of side effects.
When is the technique applied?
In most cases, electrophoresis is a component of complex treatment. The scope of ion therapy is extensive – diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, gynecological pathologies, diseases of the ENT organs and much more. The choice of a drug depends on the nature of the disease:
- if the patient is diagnosed with cardiac pathologies, a potassium solution will be introduced into the body using electrophoresis. The method is effective in the treatment of vascular diseases and hypertension;
- patients on whose body there are deep scars from injuries or surgical interventions are prescribed electrophoresis with an iodine solution – this substance provokes the process of natural resorption of scar tissue;
- under the influence of currents, vitamin and mineral compositions penetrate the skin better, which allows you to start the regeneration process and stimulate the production of collagen;
- method is effective in the fight against cellulite.
In general, electrophoresis helps to activate metabolic processes throughout the body, relieve tension, and achieve complete relaxation. Therefore, the technique can be used in the treatment of almost all diseases to which the human body is susceptible.
Contraindications include: bronchial asthma, tumors, blood clotting disorders, the presence of metal prostheses in the body, high temperature.
Methods and types
The duration of one session of electrophoresis is 10-40 minutes, depending on the individual case. Taking into account the diagnosis of the patient, his age and general condition, the attending physician determines the strength and density of the electric current. During the procedure, a person does not suffer from pain, but at the moment the current passes through the skin, a slight tingling sensation may be felt.
The course of treatment with electrophoresis can last from 10 to 20 sessions. Based on the diagnosis and the goals set, the procedures are prescribed daily or every other day. If it is necessary to prescribe a second course, it is imperative to take a break – at least 2 months.
During the procedure, it is important that the injected drug is perpendicular to the current path. In some techniques, special pads made of cloth or tissue paper may be used to achieve this effect. Behind the layer containing the drug, there is a protective pad on which the electrode is fixed. And the second electrode is placed on the opposite side of the body, as a result, a kind of line is created along which the drug particles will move.
If it is required to expose the current to the limb, then special trays filled with a medicinal solution can be used for these purposes. The walls of such containers are initially equipped with electrodes – the patient simply immerses the diseased limb in the solution.
We can talk about the safety of electrophoresis only if the procedure takes place in a physiotherapy room under the constant and vigilant supervision of a specialist.