Galvanization is one of the methods of physiotherapy used in the complex therapy of many diseases.
Influencing a number of metabolic processes, this technique can significantly improve the patient's condition in the rehabilitation period of many diseases.
Operation principle
The essence of the therapeutic method of galvanization is the use of the properties of a current that has a constant frequency, low voltage and low power, which acts on the body through electrodes applied to the skin. In tissues under the influence of current, the phenomenon of electrolytic dissociation occurs. The redistribution of ions causes a complex set of physical and chemical processes, the result of which is a change in the permeability of cell membranes, enzyme activity, and the level of metabolic processes.
The intensity and duration of exposure is determined by a specialist, based on the specifics of the pathological process.
The device for galvanization requires the presence of two electrodes - a cathode, which reduces the ability of tissues to excite, and an anode, which increases this ability.
Important: not all tissues of the body are affected by this effect, but only thosewhich are capable of conducting galvanic current.
What to treat?
A number of tissues are immune to the effects of galvanic current, as they contain an insufficient amount of free liquid:
- skin;
- ligament apparatus;
- tendons;
- relaxed muscles;
- bone tissue.
On the contrary, physiological fluids and abundantly supplied organs and tissues are most likely to be affected by such an effect:
- blood;
- liquor;
- bile;
- lymph;
- liver;
- spleen;
- light;
- kidneys.
It is in these organs that the maximum effect of medical procedures is recorded.
Effects
- Weakening the sensitivity of superficially located nerve endings, which are affected. This effect concerns temperature and pain types of sensitivity, is used if it is necessary to eliminate pain in chronic diseases (for example, osteochondrosis, radiculopathy, spondyloarthritis).
- Improving the resorption of substances into the bloodstream in the vessels. This effect finds use, for example, in anti-inflammatory therapy using drugs from the relevant group for topical application. Another therapeutic technique, electrophoresis, is based on this phenomenon.
- Activating action on the sympathoadrenal system and activation of lymph circulation
- Activation activityendocrine glands.
- Activation of reparative processes in tissues, which is necessary for traumatic lesions.
Indications
Knowledge of the mechanism of action and effects of galvanic current made it possible to formulate a list of situations requiring exposure to the galvanic current on the body.
Galvanization is a pathogenetic type of therapy. This makes it possible to use it in a wide range of diseases susceptible to this type of organ exposure.
- Trophic disorders arising from disorders of hemodynamics and microcirculation.
- Joint damage resulting from infectious and inflammatory processes or traumatic effects (in these cases, galvanization is used at the rehabilitation stage).
- Infectious-inflammatory or traumatic lesions of the peripheral nervous system (physiotherapy, in particular, galvanization and electrophoresis, are indicated in the rehabilitation period) - for example, plexitis, neuritis, neuromyositis.
- Rehabilitation period after various brain lesions (in the absence of contraindications).
- Changes characteristic of the initial stages of arterial hypertension and atherosclerotic process.
- Vegetative dystonia.
- Migraine.
- Hypotension.
- Some changes characteristic of angina pectoris.
- Complex treatment of neurotic conditions, neurasthenia.
- Some eye diseases.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinalintestinal tract.
- Some diseases of ENT organs.
- Complex therapy of chronic inflammatory processes.
The use of the galvanization method in these situations improves the prognosis of the disease and reduces the rehabilitation period after suffering a pathology of the nervous system or the musculoskeletal system.
Preparation
Before starting treatment manipulation, it is necessary to carefully examine the skin areas that are supposed to be affected by electrodes. It should be intact, without rashes or irritations.
Treatment progress
Throughout the entire procedure, it is necessary to monitor the readings of the device, not allowing the set current strength to be exceeded, as well as the subjective sensations of the patient, preventing the appearance of pain.
Subjectively, during the galvanization procedure, the patient, with the right current strength, feels twitching, paresthesia in the form of "crawling" and vibration under the electrodes applied to the skin. Moreover, under the cathode, the effect, including the irritating one, is felt stronger than under the anode. If you experience sensations in the form of burning or pain, you should smoothly turn off the device, and to continue the procedure, turn it on again, setting a lower intensity of exposure.
To prevent peeling of the epidermis during course treatment, it is recommended to lubricate the skin with Vaseline.
During course treatment after 5-6 procedures, an exacerbation of a chronic disease may occur with some increasesymptoms. The patient should be informed that this effect is not a deterioration in the course of the disease, but indicates a positive effect of the treatment procedure.
Contraindications
Galvanization is a very effective way of influencing the body: direct current affects many metabolic and biochemical processes. Therefore, when prescribing a treatment procedure, one should take into account the presence of a number of contraindications - conditions where such exposure can be harmful:
- Inflammatory processes in the acute phase, including purulent ones.
- Individual intolerance to the effects of electric current.
- Severe degree of atherosclerotic process.
- Diseases of the blood system.
- Infectious and inflammatory diseases in the acute phase, characterized by an increase in body temperature.
- Mechanical traumatization of the skin in the intended location of the electrodes.
- Skin diseases accompanied by skin damage.
- Pregnancy period.
- Cachexia condition.
- Feverish conditions of any origin.
- Presence of malignant neoplasms.
- Severe arterial hypertension (with episodes of rises in blood pressure up to 180/100 millimeters of mercury).
- Atrial fibrillation.
- Presence of extrasystoles.
- Severe circulatory failure (grade 2-3).
Apparatus for galvanization "Potok-1"
This device complies with the second class of electrical safety and is intended for medical procedures of galvanization and electrophoresis.
Since the Potok-1 therapeutic device is not equipped with a timer, during the medical manipulation, the staff is required to control the duration of the procedure; a special procedure clock is used for this.
Therapeutic device "Elfor Prof"
This is one of the models of devices widely used to obtain direct current for the purpose of therapeutic effects.
This galvanizing and electrophoresis machine is an improved version of Potok-1 electrophoresis therapy device with the following features:
- The presence of a microcontroller in a modified version allows you to expand its functionality.
- Smoothly rotating, non-stop and limitless intensity knob allows smoother and more precise intensity adjustments.
- When the device is turned on, the current is always automatically set to zero; this is an essential electrical safety measure.
- The presence of a built-in timer in the device "Elfor Prof" greatly simplifies the process of the procedure, in particular, control over the duration of the procedure. After the set time has elapsed, the equipment will turn off automatically.
- Current stabilization mode helps maintainconstant value of the set parameters throughout the manipulation.
- One more possibility of the "Elfor Prof" device, in addition to galvanization, is electrophoresis. In this mode, local administration of pharmaceuticals into the body is carried out.
