Electrophoresis is prescribed to a child quite often for the treatment of certain pathologies. With its help, active substances are introduced into the baby's body, which enter directly into the affected area. Use for these purposes the minimum discharge current, so as not to harm the health of a small patient. The duration of the manipulation depends on the age of the child.
Operating principle
Electrophoresis is the movement of charged ions in an electric field capable of transporting various particles in a liquid or vapor medium. The principle of action is as follows. Electrode spacers are placed on the dermis, wrapped in a drug-soaked cloth. Due to the effect of current, the solutions of the drugs decompose into ions, forming hydrophilic charged complexes, which penetrate into biological tissues and have a therapeutic effect. Most of them lingering in the skin exhibit a local therapeutic effect.
The rest, along with the flow of blood and lymph, is carried throughout the body. Positively charged particles have an analgesic, sedative, anti-inflammatory and dehydrating effect. Negative normalize metabolic processes, relax, dilate blood vessels. In addition, a slight warming effect is inherent in electrophoresis.
Indications and contraindications
Why is electrophoresis prescribed for children? This procedure copes with the residual symptoms of the common cold and is often recommended by pediatric doctors during the recovery period. And also it is prescribed for the treatment of the following pathological conditions:
- Birth injury.
- Anomalies and congenital heart defects.
- Burns.
- Musculoskeletal disorders.
- Hyper- or hypotonic muscle.
- To reduce pain with various ailments.
- ENT diseases.
- Neurological disorders.
- Diathesis.
- Eye diseases.
In addition, it is used when it is necessary to direct the effect of the drug directly to the center of the focus of inflammation.
How often can electrophoresis be done to a child? Any physiotherapeutic treatment is prescribed with a frequency of not more than four times a year. The interval between courses should be at least three months.
This procedure is contraindicated in the presence of children:
- damage to the skin at the site of application of the electrodes;
- pustules;
- dermatitis;
- high temperature;
- renal and heart failure;
- tumors;
- acute bronchial asthma;
- acute inflammatory process;
- bleeding disorders and risk of bleeding;
- allergic manifestations to medications recommended for electrophoresis.
Advantages and disadvantages
Quite often, drug electrophoresis is prescribed for children. What it is? This is a simultaneous effect on the body of electric current and the drug. Using this physiotherapeutic method gives a good effect.
The advantages of electrophoresis:
- there is no feeling of discomfort;
- there is no risk of developing allergic or other adverse reactions of a local or general nature;
- the duration of the therapeutic effect from one day to twenty;
- there is the possibility of administering the drug directly to the affected area, bypassing the vascular system and gastrointestinal tract;
- Babies older than one year usually tolerate this procedure well.
Among the shortcomings should be noted:
- the presence of contraindications in a particular individual;
- not all drugs can be administered using this method.
Features of the action of electric current in small patients
What gives electrophoresis to children? Treatment with this technique allows you to partially refuse oral or injectable medication.
Consider some features of the children's body:
- Morphofunctional immaturity of the dermis is a thin outer layer. It contains a small number of cell layers that are loosely connected to a thin cell-free layer separating connective tissue from the endothelium (basement membrane).
- In babies younger than four months, sweat glands are not developed, and also intradermal vessels are prone to expansion.
- The integuments have a high intensity of molecular interaction with water, i.e. they have a low resistance to electric current and absorb substances with high speed.
- Chemical and temperature regulation is not well developed, therefore, the electrophoresis procedure is carried out carefully.
During the period of manipulation, the duration of which depends on age, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the child by both doctors and parents.
Under the influence of current, such effects are observed as:
- lymphatic drainage;
- hormone-regulating;
- vasodilator;
- lymphatic drainage;
- anti-inflammatory;
- muscle relaxant;
- immunostimulating.
Medicines used for physiotherapy
As already mentioned, electrophoresis is often prescribed for children. What it is? This is one of the safe and effective methods of administering medications for many ailments. It is simple to implement, but requires an understanding of some of the physical laws and pharmacological effects of the drugs used. Using an electric current, various medications are administered, while the systemic effect on the child's body is significantly reduced. In the affected area, the maximum concentration of the active substance is created. The choice of drug depends on the existing diseases:
- Musculoskeletal system and internal organs with pain syndrome - NSAIDs and antispasmodics: "Papaverine", "Metamizole sodium", "Procain", "Papaverine"
- The consequences of traumatic brain injuries and neuroinfections in a child are electrophoresis with Lidase, Nicotinic acid, Piracetam, Iodine, Magnesium sulfate.
- Damage to the central nervous system - "Drotaverin", "Magnesium sulfate", "Ascorbic acid", "Aminophylline", "Nicotinic acid", that is, medicines that have a dehydrating and vasodilating effect, as well as improving venous outflow.
- Polyneuropathies and neuritis are anticholinesterase agents and vitamins: Proserinum, Pyridoxine hydrochloride, Tocopherol acetate.
- Asthenic syndrome - adaptogens: “Aloe extract”, “Caffeine”.
- The inflammatory process of an antibacterial nature - antibiotics: Erythromycin, Ampicillin.
The specialist individually selects the necessary concentration of the solution, current strength, as well as the duration of the manipulation.
Does electrophoresis help children? The answer to this question is yes. This technique is safe, allows you to create a high concentration of the active substance in the pathological focus, gives a quick and lasting effect. In addition, this physiotherapeutic procedure is available in almost all health care facilities on a free basis.
Methods of physiotherapy
The essence of electrophoresis is as follows. With its help, various drugs are introduced into the child’s body that go directly to the affected area. For this purpose, a minimal discharge of current is used so as not to cause harm and not provoke a pain syndrome.
Known for the following varieties of electrophoresis:
- Cavity - into the rectum, stomach, bladder, that is, a drug and an electrode with a plus sign are inserted into the hollow organs, and an electrode with a minus sign is located on the surface. This method is effective in pathology of the pelvic and intestinal organs.
- Tray - the necessary medicine is poured into a container with electrodes in the form of a solution and a diseased part of the body, for example, the lower or upper limb, is immersed in it.
- Interstitial - initially the patient is given a medication orally or intravenously, and then electrodes are applied to the affected area. Mostly they use such a technique for diseases of the respiratory system - laryngitis, bronchitis.
Techniques used in childhood
The above methods are used in children. In addition, there are several methods that are primarily used in small patients:
- Galvanic collar according to Shcherbakov - allowed for babies from two years. The so-called "shawl" electrode is placed in the collar region. Another, small, is applied to the lumbosacral spine. Initially, the current strength is not more than three, then it is gradually increased to ten to twelve amperes. The duration of the first two sessions is not more than four minutes. In the future, the time increases to fifteen minutes. Course treatment of a maximum of twelve manipulations.
- According to Levin - used for hyperkinesis of limbs and hypertonicity. Such conditions are characteristic of organic brain lesions. Forked electrodes are placed on the fingers of the lower and upper limbs. Fifteen minutes later, the polarity on the arms and legs is reversed.
- With joint pathology (dysplasia of the hip joints) - due to electrophoresis, the proper formation of joint tissues occurs. As a result, the range of motion in the lower limbs is restored.
- According to Vermel - for newborns and infants. One electrode is placed at the level of the second to tenth thoracic vertebra, the second on the front of the abdominal wall. The average procedure time is about ten minutes.
- Nasal - in babies and preschoolers it is difficult to perform this procedure, since they categorically refuse to introduce foreign objects into the nasal cavity. Immediately before the electrophoresis procedure, the child is washed his nose with saline or ordinary boiled water. A cotton swab soaked in a solution of novocaine or calcium chloride is introduced into the nasal passages. The ends of the turund are connected to the first electrode above the upper lip, the second is located on the back of the neck. In time, the procedure lasts no more than twenty minutes.
- According to Kellat-Zmanovsky - most often used for stuttering and spastic dysarthria. Two-bladed electrodes are placed on the lateral surface of the head. They give a current of three to seven amperes. The duration of the procedure is a minimum of seven and a maximum of fifteen minutes.
- According to Bourguignon, it is indicated for neurological anomalies localized inside the skull, traumatic and ischemic lesions of the nervous system, as well as vegetative-vascular dystonia. One electrode (bifurcated) is applied to the closed eyes, and the second - in the form of a plate - on the back of the neck.
Current during electrophoresis is added to the child gradually. When tingling occurs, it ceases to be served. The duration of the manipulation is from ten to fifteen minutes. Do it every other day or every day. The course of treatment is a minimum of ten and a maximum of twenty procedures.
What are the electrodes
There is a wide variety of these products:
- The most common are paper disposable. They are equipped with hydrophilic gaskets, due to which the active active substance of the drug penetrates into the dermis through them. Such medical devices most often consist of two plates, but there are more complex options. Immediately prior to manipulation, they are abundantly saturated with saline, water or medicine. The advantage of disposable electrodes is the ability to give any shape for ease of application to different parts of the body.
- Disposable cavity electrodes for electrophoresis are intended for carrying out the procedure inside the cavities. They are sterile and do not require any additional processing.
- Reusable medical devices are practical, but require sterilization. They are made of cotton fabric with good electrical conductivity and resistance to aggressive acids and alkalis. Matter is folded into several layers, carbon fabric electrodes are placed between them, through which current is supplied.
- Special conductive elements are sewn into the rubber plates, thanks to which they become strong and reliable. They are equipped with many modern apparatus for physiotherapy.
- Metal electrodes are currently used quite rarely. For their manufacture, copper or lead is most often used.
- It is possible to independently make hydrophilic gaskets. To do this, take a natural fabric, for example, cotton or flannel, fold it in several layers so that the thickness is no more than ten millimeters and moisten with saline or water. The electrode is placed on the gasket.
The selection of these products should be approached responsibly and it is advisable to consult a specialist before purchasing.
Model Overview
To carry out physiotherapeutic treatment at home, you need to purchase a device for electrophoresis. It is advisable to check with the doctor which manufacturer is best to buy the device. The first procedure is performed in the presence of a nurse. In addition, you need to learn how to choose to prepare solutions for the manipulation. A large selection of electrophoresis devices is available on the market. Let's consider some of them:
- "Potok-1" - mainly used in medical organizations involved in rehabilitation.
- “Radius-01” is a single-channel portable device, as the previous one combines several physiotherapeutic methods: diadynamic therapy, galvanization, amplipulse therapy and medicinal electrophoresis. It is widely used in sanatorium and cosmetology institutions, as well as in dentistry and at home.
- "Refton-01-FS" is a device that combines several functions: fluctuation, diadynamic therapy, electrophoresis, electrical stimulation and amplipulse therapy. The electrophoresis procedure for a child can be done at his bedside.
- "Elfor" is a portable device that is used both at home and in healthcare facilities.
Thus, physiotherapy is performed using different devices. Remember that the decision about the need for this manipulation is made by your child's doctor.
Instead of a conclusion
What physical process is used for electrophoresis? The method is based on the following phenomena: electrical conductivity of body structures, galvanization, electrolytic dissociation. In this physiotherapeutic procedure, under the influence of a constant electric current of small force, which is supplied to the individual’s body through electrodes, charged particles move in the tissues: negative ones move to the anode, and positive ones move to the cathode. Depending on the size of the charge and the size of the molecule, the velocities are different.
Now you know what physical process is used in electrophoresis.