Medicinal electrophoresis is a physiotherapeutic procedure by which medicinal substances are introduced into the human body. Electrophoresis can be done in Moscow at the Yusupov Hospital. Physiotherapists at the rehabilitation clinic use the latest equipment from leading US and European manufacturers to perform procedures. The medical staff is attentive to the wishes of patients. Procedures are performed in comfortable rooms equipped according to European standards.
Electrophoresis has the following effects:
- reduces the intensity of the inflammatory process;
- reduces swelling;
- eliminates pain syndrome;
- calms the nervous system;
- relaxes increased muscle tone;
- improves microcirculation;
- accelerates the process of tissue restoration;
- stimulates the production of biologically active substances (vitamins, microelements, hormones);
- activates the body's defenses.
Medicines enter the patient's body through the intercellular spaces, sweat and sebaceous glands in the form of positive or negative particles. The medicinal dose during electrophoresis is low: from 2 to 10% of the total volume of the drug contained on the pad. Most of the pharmacological drug is retained in the skin and subcutaneous fat and enters the bloodstream a day after the procedure. This property determines the delayed (prolonged) effect of the physiotherapeutic procedure: improvement of innervation and metabolism, relief of swelling and pain.
Is electrophoresis harmful? The procedures do not harm either infants or the elderly. Specialists at the Yusupov Hospital take into account indications, temporary and permanent contraindications for electrophoresis, and strictly adhere to the technique of performing the procedure. Due to the fact that electrophoresis has a pronounced local effect, it does not affect the entire body. This allows you to avoid many of the side effects inherent in traditional drug treatment.
An excursion into the history of electrophoresis
The leading method of physiotherapy would not be possible without a continuous current generator, which was created by the Italian physicist A. Volta in the 19th century.
The first talk about electroomosis, which is the movement of solutions through capillaries under the influence of an electric field, took place back in 1809. It was then that the German scientist Ferdinand Reis first mentioned electrophoresis. However, his research was not widely disseminated.
In 1926, the first tube needed for the procedure was described by Arne Tiselius, a Swedish biochemist. The first device for electrical procedures was invented in 1936 - the previously proposed tubes were transformed into more efficient narrow cells, and a little later they were replaced by glass sections. Long-term studies conducted on horse serum have revealed the mechanism of action of electrophoresis: molecules with an electrical charge, under the influence of an electric current in a liquid medium, move to the zone opposite to the charged electrode.
Fever after treatment for pneumonia? Consultation with a qualified doctor in Moscow
Treatment using various forces of nature, or physiotherapy, is one of the oldest fields of medicine.
She studies how various natural or artificially created physical factors affect the body and develops methods and means of using them for the treatment and prevention of various diseases.
Among the main directions are:• balneotherapy, or hydrotherapy• thermal treatment;• treatment by mechanical influences;• phototherapy;
• electrotherapy. The largest number of methods includes electrotherapy. But perhaps the most common is electrophoresis. It occupies a position at the intersection of two areas of medicine, such as physiotherapy and drug treatment, since electric current is used to deliver drugs into the body.
Medicinal electrophoresis is a treatment method that combines the introduction of certain substances into the body with exposure to direct or alternating electric current. The invention of this method was facilitated by a number of scientific discoveries and inventions of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, such as the galvanic cell, the theory of electrolytic dissociation, etc.
d.Electrophoresis has been used in medicine since the beginning of the 19th century, when it was first used for treatment. Since then, the electrophoresis method has been constantly improved, and the scope of its use has expanded. Physiotherapy is the main, but the only place where electrophoresis is used. It is also used in diagnostics and biochemical research.
Electrophoresis as a treatment method involves placing a gasket moistened with a medicinal solution between the body and the electrode of the device. Under the influence of current, ions of the substance from the solution are transferred through the ducts of the skin glands or through the mucous membranes into deeper tissues.
From where they are then distributed throughout the body through the blood and lymph flow.
• there is no tissue damage or pain; • there is no excessively high concentration of the drug in the digestive tract and blood, which can harm them; • local administration, in which most of the required component accumulates directly in the treatment area;
For all these qualities, medicinal electrophoresis has earned the reputation of one of the safest conservative treatment methods. Its effectiveness is obvious to doctors, but many patients tend to doubt it, believing that exposure to electric current can be harmful. Let's try to dispel such prejudices.
Pneumonia is always accompanied by fever, cough, shortness of breath, weakness, pain and wheezing in the chest. Pneumonia occurs in acute, subacute and chronic forms of the disease and is caused by various microorganisms, viruses, and fungi.
Treatment of the disease is carried out in a hospital under the supervision of a doctor. To treat pneumonia, antibacterial therapy is used to reduce the risk of relapse.
The doctor prescribes antipyretics, drugs to reduce pathological secretion of the tracheobronchial tree, antibiotics, and additionally prescribes physiotherapy and therapeutic massage.
If there is a prolonged increase in temperature after pneumonia, the patient is examined, blood tests, urine tests, ultrasound, MRI, X-rays are prescribed, and the patient is sent for consultation to specialists depending on the condition. All types of examinations can be completed at the Yusupov Hospital.
Pneumonia is treated by general practitioners and pulmonologists at the hospital’s therapeutic department.
From the first days after stabilization of the patient's condition, physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises are prescribed to strengthen the immune system, improve respiratory function, and increase blood circulation in the respiratory organs.
Often, after a course of treatment, the temperature remains at 370–37.50 for a long time. If after treatment for pneumonia the temperature rises again, this may indicate a chronic course of the disease, a sluggish inflammatory process.
During the treatment of pneumonia with antibacterial drugs, the patient’s body produces antibodies that inhibit microorganisms.
A certain amount of antibodies continues to be produced for two weeks after the end of treatment for pneumonia, but in chronic cases of pneumonia there are not enough antibodies, and the temperature remains at 370 to 380 for a long time.
Pneumonia greatly weakens the patient’s body, the immune system is suppressed, and various diseases develop against the background of decreased immunity. A symptom of the development of complications after pneumonia is an increase in body temperature from 370 to 380. Complications after pneumonia can be caused by intoxication of internal organs or damage by viruses. The following pathological conditions develop:
- purulent inflammatory process;
- meningitis;
- infectious-toxic shock;
- acute heart failure;
- acute respiratory failure;
- endocarditis;
- pericarditis;
- myocarditis;
- psychoses;
- blood disease;
- pleural empyema;
- sepsis;
- pulmonary edema;
- inflammatory process in other organs.
All these conditions are accompanied by a prolonged increase in temperature, weakness, and general malaise. After pneumonia, the patient is susceptible to infection with various infections, which can manifest themselves as symptoms of the inflammatory process:
- chills, weakness;
- cough;
- malaise, lethargy;
- decreased or lack of appetite;
- respiratory dysfunction;
- headache;
- aches in bones, joints;
- pain in the ears, trachea;
- runny nose;
- enlarged lymph nodes.
In some cases, doctors do not prescribe treatment for patients with a prolonged increase in temperature after pneumonia, but only monitor them - often the temperature helps to increase metabolism and fight the residual effects of the disease.
Additionally, physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed in the form of warming up the chest area, magnetic therapy, UHF, electrophoresis, therapeutic exercises and breathing exercises, which help speed up the restoration of respiratory function and help improve immunity.
Doctors cannot say exactly how long the elevated temperature will last - it depends on the state of the patient’s immunity, the severity of the disease, and the general condition of the patient’s body.
Certain types of fungi and bacteria have the ability to transform into the L-form when the microorganisms are in a “dormant” state until favorable conditions occur.
Decreased immunity, hypothermia, viral attack and other conditions lead to the activation of such microorganisms, which again turn into the L-form state when antibiotics enter the body. The next time the immune system is suppressed, the bacteria become active again.
Constant inflammatory processes with decreased immunity are typical for children; in adults, the chronic form of the disease is provoked by bad habits, difficult working conditions, and high air pollution in the workplace.
Doctors at the Yusupov Hospital provide assistance using innovative methods for treating respiratory diseases. At the Yusupov Hospital you can undergo diagnostics, effective treatment and rehabilitation after illness. You can make an appointment with a qualified doctor by phone.
- ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases)
- Yusupov Hospital
- "Diseases of the respiratory system." Guide ed. acad. RAMS, prof. N.R. Paleeva. M., Medicine, 2000.
- Respiratory failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ed. V.A. Ignatieva and A.N. Kokosova, 2006, 248 p.
- Ilkovich M.M. and others. Diagnosis of diseases and conditions complicated by the development of spontaneous pneumothorax, 2004.
*The information on the site is for informational purposes only. All materials and prices posted on the site are not a public offer, defined by the provisions of Art. 437 Civil Code of the Russian Federation. For accurate information, please contact the clinic staff or visit our clinic.
Mechanism of therapeutic action
The action of an electric current causes the drug to be converted into ions with an electrical charge, which penetrate the skin. It is in the skin that the main part of the drug remains, a slightly smaller part is transported throughout the body through the lymph and blood.
Ions with different charges have different effects on the body. Thus, negatively charged ions have:
- secretory effect, i.e. influence the production of substances with biological activity and their entry into the bloodstream;
- relaxing effect on smooth muscle tissue;
- vasodilating effect;
- normalizing effect on metabolism.
Ions with a positive charge have anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory, soothing and analgesic effects.
Areas of skin involved in drug transport:
- excretory ducts of sweat and sebaceous glands;
- intercellular areas;
- hair follicles.
The effectiveness of electrophoresis directly depends on the complete absorption of the drug, which is influenced by the following factors:
- person's age;
- the strength of the supplied current;
- properties of the solvent in which the medicine is dissolved;
- concentration and dose of the drug;
- ion size and charge;
- place for placing electrodes;
- duration of the procedure;
- individual characteristics of the body, such as tolerance and susceptibility of the procedure.
Safety
Before using the drug electrophoresis procedure, it is important to know the following:
- Galvanization and electrophoresis should not be used on areas where there are metal implants;
- It is not recommended to use electrophoresis on the heart area;
- It is not recommended to perform electrophoresis in the presence of a pacemaker;
- should not be performed with a drug to which an allergic reaction has previously been noted;
- Before the procedure, it is necessary to remove all metal objects and jewelry from the body;
- during the procedure , do not touch the device body, electrodes, wires, heating pipes;
- inform the medical staff in case of unpleasant sensations under the electrodes and deterioration in general health.
How is the procedure performed?
Electrophoresis is carried out in a physiotherapy room by a medical professional. There are devices for home use, each of which has instructions that must be strictly followed.
Classic percutaneous method. The nurse examines the areas of the body where the electrodes will be placed - the skin should be healthy, without moles, damage or inflammatory elements. A pre-prepared main drug is applied to one pad, which is a sterile gauze, and another medicine is applied to a second, similar one, most often 2% aminophylline, which improves blood circulation, relaxes smooth muscles and has a mild analgesic effect. The first gasket is connected to the positive, and the second to the negative.
After preparation, the pads are applied to the skin, electrodes are attached to them and secured with a weight or elastic bandages, after which the device is turned on.
The current strength and procedure time are selected individually. The nurse gradually increases the current during the procedure and asks how the patient is feeling. Normal sensations are a slight tingling sensation at the site where the electrodes are attached. But burning, itching and pain are a signal to immediately stop the procedure.
The average procedure time is 10-15 minutes. Procedures for young children are shorter. The duration of the course is 10-20 procedures, which are carried out daily or every other day.
Other methods of electrophoresis
- Vannochkovy. The drug and solution are poured into a bath with built-in electrodes. After preparation, the patient immerses the affected part of the body in the bath.
- Cavity. The solution with the drug is injected into the cavity (vagina, rectum) and one of the electrodes is inserted into the same cavity. The second electrode is attached to the skin. Used for diseases of the large intestine and pelvic organs.
- Interstitial. The medicine is administered in the traditional way, for example, intravenously or orally, and electrodes are applied to the projection of the affected organ. This administration is especially effective for respiratory pathologies (bronchitis, tracheitis).
Methodology
The essence of the procedure is to position the drug (solution or gel) perpendicular to the movement of the electric current, i.e., between the electrode and the surface of human skin. Depending on the method of applying electrodes and the method of drug administration, several methods of drug electrophoresis are distinguished.
Galvanic (percutaneous) - gauze or filtered paper pads are impregnated with a medicinal solution, which are placed on the patient’s body on opposite sides of the pathological focus to create a field within which the medicinal substance will move. Electrodes are placed inside the gaskets and covered with a protective film on top;
Bath - the required volume of medicinal solution is poured into a special container (bath), which is already equipped with electrodes. The patient immerses the painful part of the body (arm or leg) in the liquid;
Cavity - a solution of a drug is injected into hollow organs (stomach, bladder, rectum, vagina, uterus), one of the electrodes is placed there, and the second is located on the surface of the body;
Interstitial - the drug is administered orally (through the mouth) or by injection, after which electrodes are placed in the area of the pathological focus. Interstitial electrophoresis is most effective in the treatment of respiratory diseases (bronchitis, laryngitis, tracheobronchitis, etc.)
Advantages and disadvantages of drug administration using electrophoresis
Advantages:
- The introduction is not accompanied by pain;
- Low concentration of the drug in the solution (up to 10%), which is sufficient to provide a high therapeutic effect;
- Injecting the drug directly into the site of inflammation;
- Minimum of adverse and allergic reactions;
- Long-term therapeutic effect of the administered drug (up to 20 days);
- The classic route of passage of drugs through the gastrointestinal tract when taken orally is bypassed, which means the bioavailability of drugs increases.
Flaws:
- Not all drugs can be introduced into the body using electrophoresis;
- The procedure itself has a number of strict contraindications.
Side effects and complications
When performing medicinal electrophoresis, side effects or more serious complications are observed very rarely. Usually these are allergic reactions to the administered drug, which are manifested by redness of the skin, an itchy rash, and slight swelling at the site where the electrodes are applied. When the procedure is canceled and antihistamines are used, the negative manifestations quickly disappear.
Also, during the 2-3 electrophoresis procedure, a slight increase in pain and an increase in local or general temperature in inflammatory diseases (functional exacerbation) is allowed. By the end of the course of physical therapy, the discomfort goes away on its own.
Drugs used in electrophoresis
Depending on the charge, the drug is administered through the positive or negative pole. During the procedure, it is permissible to use only those drugs that penetrate the skin. Each medicine has its own indications and has a specific therapeutic effect. Let's consider the main drugs used in electrophoresis:
| Drug name | Indications | Therapeutic effect |
Drugs administered through the positive pole | ||
| Atropine |
| The secretion of glands decreases and the tone of smooth muscle tissue decreases. Pain is eliminated. |
| Calcium |
Electrophoresis with calcium chloride is prescribed for blood clotting disorders. | Antiallergic, hemostatic and anti-inflammatory effects. Replenishment of calcium deficiency. |
| Eufillin | Electrophoresis with aminophylline is indicated for:
| Reducing smooth muscle spasm, lowering blood pressure, improving blood circulation and eliminating bronchospasm. Elimination of pain syndrome. |
| Vitamin B1 |
| Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antiallergic effect. Normalization of metabolism and the functioning of these organs and systems. |
| Karipazim |
| Softening of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs. Scarring of damaged collagen fibers and restoration of their elasticity. Anti-inflammatory effect. |
| Diphenhydramine |
| Calming, hypnotic, analgesic and antiallergic effect. Relaxation of smooth muscles. |
| Lidaza | Electrophoresis with lidase is carried out when:
| Breakdown of hyaluronic acid, which is involved in the formation of scars. Reducing tissue swelling and slowing down the mechanism of contracture formation. |
| Magnesium |
| Normalization of heart rate, functioning of the nervous system and musculoskeletal system. |
| Mumiyo |
| More than 80 biologically active substances have a complex effect on the body, including regenerating, anti-inflammatory, etc. |
| Papaverine | Conditions that are accompanied by spasms (spasm of the urinary tract, bronchospasm, etc.). | Elimination of muscle spasm, tone of smooth muscle tissue of internal organs. Vasodilating effect. Reduced blood pressure. |
| Aloe |
| Acceleration of tissue regeneration processes. Stimulation of immunity at the local level. Pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. |
| Novocaine | Pain syndrome accompanying the disease. | Local anesthetic effect. |
Drugs administered through the negative pole | ||
| Iodine |
| Anti-inflammatory effect. Inhibition of the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Reducing cholesterol levels. |
| Ampicillin |
| Bactericidal effect on a wide range of infectious pathogens. |
| A nicotinic acid |
| Vasodilating effect. Improved blood circulation. Reducing blood cholesterol levels. |
| Streptocide |
| Inhibition of the growth of pathogenic flora. |
| Heparin |
| Blood thinning. Anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effect. Improving microcirculation. |
| Humisol |
| Pronounced adaptogenic effect. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Increased nonspecific resistance of the body. |
The following drugs can be administered from both the anode and cathode):
- lidase
- aminophylline;
- humisol;
- histidine;
- trypsin and others.
Most common areas of impact
Electrophoresis of the collar zone according to Shcherbak
Position - lying on your stomach. The first electrode, shaped like a collar, is placed in the shoulder girdle and connected to the anode, the second electrode is in the lumbosacral region, connected to the cathode. Drugs are administered from both the positive and negative poles, depending on the polarity of the ions.
This type of electrophoresis is indicated for vegetative-vascular dystonia, hypertension, neuroses, etc.
Electrophoresis according to Ratner
Position - lying on your back. One electrode, moistened with a solution of nicotinic acid, is placed on the manubrium of the sternum, the second, moistened with a solution of aminophylline, is placed on the cervical-occipital region. This type of electrophoresis is indicated for circulatory disorders in the cervical spine and cerebral palsy.
Electrophoresis of the lung area
Position: lying down. Depending on the affected area, different techniques are used:
- two electrodes of equal area are fixed on the sides on the right and left and connected to the cathode and anode;
- two identical electrodes are fixed: one - on the chest in front, right or left, the other - transversely on the back, connected to different poles.
The drug solution is administered unipolarly or bipolarly. This type of electrophoresis is indicated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia in the proliferation stage.
Electrophoresis of the joint area
Position: sitting or lying down. Two identical electrodes are placed transversely relative to the joint and connected to the cathode and anode. The drug solution is administered unipolarly or bipolarly. This type of electrophoresis is indicated for deforming osteoarthritis, arthritis, and joint injuries.
Indications for electrophoresis
It is easier to list contraindications to treatment, since the procedure is indicated for most common diseases of almost all organs and systems. However, the lack of widespread use of the available procedure and the interest of patients is explained by several factors:
- Doctors do not always offer patients this method of auxiliary treatment;
- since the procedures are carried out in a physiotherapy room, the course of treatment is burdensome for some patients;
- not all people trust such procedures and treat them with caution.
Indications for the procedure in small children under 1 year of age:
- hyper- or hypotonicity of muscles;
- neurological disorders of minor severity;
- diseases of the musculoskeletal system (including dysplasia and immaturity of the hip joints);
- diathesis;
- burns;
- diseases of the ENT organs.
Diadynamometry in the treatment of myopia
A common physiotherapeutic procedure is diadynamometry. Sometimes it is called diadynamophoresis. This method of treating myopia involves exposing the eyes to low-frequency pulsed current. It passes through special electrodes that are shaped like plates. Doctors often prescribe this method of treatment to school-age children.
The physiotherapist places hydrophilic pads under the electrodes. The plates are placed on the child’s eyelids, after which a current is applied. For treatment effectiveness, it is recommended to gradually increase the current strength. This can be done until the child begins to feel vibration. At the end of the procedure, eye fatigue disappears, blood circulation and metabolic processes in the tissues of the visual organs improve.
The effect of current on the child’s eyes lasts no more than 10 minutes. Usually the course consists of 10-15 procedures. In some cases, a child may be prescribed 20 sessions, but this is rare. The advantages of diadynamometry are the absence of pain and high efficiency. The results of the procedure become noticeable very quickly.
Contraindications to electrophoresis – absolute and relative
As with any other physiotherapy procedure, electrophoresis has indications and contraindications. Contraindications are divided into absolute, in which the procedure is prohibited, and relative, in which the decision on the possibility of physical treatment is made by the doctor.
Electrophoresis is not performed in the acute stage of the disease or during exacerbation of chronic pathologies - this is an absolute contraindication for all patients.
| Contraindications | |
| Absolute | Relative |
|
|
Even in the absence of direct contraindications to the procedure, the doctor always weighs the pros and cons and assesses the general state of physical and mental health before prescribing physiotherapeutic treatment.
Features of electrophoresis in children
When prescribing treatment, pediatricians often choose auxiliary therapy - electrophoresis (or iontophoresis). It is safe, has minimal risks of side effects, and allows small doses of drugs to be administered to areas with pathological changes. The procedure is painless for a small patient; tissues are not damaged when the medicine is administered.
Its popularity is due to the fact that current can have a positive effect on the human body:
- dilates blood vessels;
- relaxes muscles;
- relieves inflammation;
- stimulates the immune system;
- regulates hormonal levels.
Electrophoresis in children and adults differs because:
- Children's skin is thin and immature and has fewer cell layers.
- The skin of children absorbs substances faster and has low resistance to current.
- Up to four months, infants do not have developed sweat glands, and thermoregulation is not well developed.
- The epidermis in children has a high ability to regenerate.
Due to these factors, treatment with electrophoresis should be carried out under the supervision of medical personnel and parents, taking precautions.
For young children, the procedure should not exceed 7-8 minutes. For older children, the duration increases to 15-20 minutes.
