Electrotherapies

Light therapy can be used to help wound healing, blue light has an antimicrobial effect and red light stimulates ATP production, capillary formation and fibroblast development. It also reduces pain including arthritic pain and releases trigger points in muscles.

Pulsed Magnetic Field Therapy uses a weak fluctuating magnetic field to move ions within the tissues including across cell membranes. Different frequencies are used for specific effects. It can help in fracture repair, pain relief, nerve repair, and can also cause vasodilation and constriction.

Therapeutic Shortwave Ultrasound has both a thermal and non thermal effect. It is good for reducing adhesions and improving the extensibility of soft tissue. It increases blood flow and reduces pain but although it does not reduce inflammation it does promote an effective healing cascade and enhances collagen synthesis and organisation.

TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) is used for pain relief. It can either be conventional TENS which stimulates fast transmission nerves to block chronic pain or acupuncture type which causes the release of endorphins to have a longer lasting effect.

NMES (neuromuscular electrical stimulation) uses an electrical pulse to activate muscles. It can be used following surgery to build muscle and prepare the animal for exercise based rehabilitation. It is also beneficial for neurological conditions.