Electrotherapy
Controlled electrical stimulation, used honestly: an adjunct for pain management, not a cure-all.
What it involves
Electrotherapy uses controlled electrical currents through surface electrodes: TENS for pain modulation and muscle stimulation where activation needs help. It is painless, non-invasive, and always one tool in a wider plan.
What it is commonly used for
- Short-term pain management, creating room for active treatment to happen.
- Muscle re-activation where a joint problem or surgery has switched a muscle off.
Where it fits: an honest note
The evidence for electrotherapy varies by condition, and physiotherapy has moved toward active treatment as the main course. Where stimulation earns a place in your plan, it is as an adjunct to exercise and hands-on treatment, and your physiotherapist should be able to say why it is there. If you have been relying on a TENS machine at home, bring it up at assessment: how you use it matters.
General information, not a diagnosis: whether this treatment suits you is decided at your own assessment with a registered physiotherapist.