Galvanization is one of the methods of physiotherapeutic exposure used in the complex treatment 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.
Operating principle
The essence of the therapeutic galvanization technique is the use of the properties of a current having a constant frequency, low voltage and low power, which through the electrodes applied to the skin acts on the body. 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 apparatus for galvanization involves the presence of two electrodes - a cathode, which reduces the ability of tissues to excite, and an anode that increases this ability.
Important: not all body tissues are exposed to this effect, but only those that are capable of conducting a galvanic current.
What to treat?
A number of tissues are immune to the effects of galvanic current, since they contain an insufficient amount of free fluid:
- skin integument;
- ligamentous apparatus;
- tendons;
- muscles in a relaxed state;
- bone.
On the contrary, physiological fluids and abundant blood supply to organs and tissues are most readily amenable to this effect:
- blood;
- cerebrospinal fluid;
- bile;
- lymph;
- liver;
- spleen;
- lungs;
- the kidneys.
It is in these organs that the maximum effect of medical procedures is recorded.
Effects
- The weakening of the sensitivity of superficially located nerve endings that are affected. This effect applies to temperature and pain types of sensitivity, it is used if necessary to eliminate the pain syndrome in chronic diseases (for example, osteochondrosis, radiculopathy, spondylitis).
- Improving the resorption of substances into the bloodstream in the vessels. This effect finds application, for example, in anti-inflammatory therapy using drugs from the appropriate group for topical application. One more therapeutic technique of electrophoresis is based on this phenomenon.
- Activating effect on the sympathoadrenal system and activation of lymph circulation
- Activation of the endocrine glands.
- Activation of reparative processes in tissues, which is necessary for traumatic lesions.
Indications
Knowledge of the mechanism of action and the effects of galvanic current made it possible to formulate a list of situations that require exposure to the body of galvanic current.
Galvanization is a pathogenetic type of therapy. This makes it possible to apply it with a wide range of diseases susceptible to this type of exposure to organs.
- Trophic disturbances arising from hemodynamic and microcirculation disorders.
- Joint lesions 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.
- The rehabilitation period after various brain lesions (in the absence of contraindications).
- Changes characteristic of the initial stages of arterial hypertension and the atherosclerotic process.
- Vegetative dystonia.
- Migraine.
- Arterial hypotension.
- Some changes characteristic of angina pectoris.
- Comprehensive treatment of neurotic conditions, neurasthenia.
- Some ophthalmic diseases.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Some diseases of the ENT organs.
- Combined 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 the pathology of the nervous system or musculoskeletal system.
Preparation
Before starting medical manipulation, it is necessary to carefully examine the skin areas that are supposed to be affected by electrodes. It should be intact, without rashes and irritation.
The course of the treatment procedure
Throughout the procedure, it is necessary to monitor the readings of the device, avoiding exceeding the set current strength, as well as subjective sensations of the patient, avoiding the appearance of pain.
Subjectively, during the galvanization procedure, the patient, with the correct current strength, feels twitching, paresthesia in the form of "creeping creeps" and vibration under the electrodes applied to the skin. Moreover, under the cathode, the effect, including the annoying one, is felt more strongly than under the anode. If there are 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 petroleum jelly.
With a course of treatment after 5-6 procedures, an exacerbation of a chronic disease may occur with some increase in symptoms. The patient should be informed that this effect is not a deterioration during 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 medical procedure, one should take into account the presence of a number of contraindications - conditions when such an effect can be harmful:
- Inflammatory processes in the acute phase, including purulent ones.
- Individual intolerance to the effects of electric current.
- Pronounced 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 trauma to the skin at the intended site of application of the electrodes.
- Skin diseases accompanied by damage to the skin.
- Period of pregnancy.
- The state of cachexia.
- Fever of any origin.
- The presence of malignant neoplasms.
- Severe arterial hypertension (with episodes of rises in blood pressure up to 180/100 millimeters of mercury).
- Atrial fibrillation.
- The presence of extrasystoles.
- Severe circulatory failure (2-3 degree).
The device for galvanization "Potok-1"
This device corresponds to the second class of electrical safety and is intended for medical procedures of galvanization and electrophoresis.
Since the therapeutic apparatus "Potok-1" is not equipped with a timer, during the medical manipulation, personnel are required to monitor the duration of the procedure; For this, special treatment hours are used.
Therapeutic apparatus "Elfor Prof"
This is one of the models of devices that are widely used to obtain direct current for the purpose of therapeutic effect.
This apparatus for galvanization and electrophoresis is an improved version of the therapeutic device for electrophoresis "Potok-1", having the following features:
- The presence of a microcontroller in a modified version allows you to expand its functionality.
- The smoothly rotating, without stops and restrictions, the intensity control knob allows you to more smoothly and accurately adjust the intensity.
- When you turn on the device, the current strength is always automatically set to zero; This is a critical electrical safety measure.
- The presence of a built-in timer in the Elfor Prof apparatus greatly simplifies the process of the procedure, in particular, monitoring the duration of the procedure. After the set time has elapsed, the equipment turns off automatically.
- The current stabilization mode helps to maintain a constant value of the specified parameters throughout the manipulation.
- Another possibility of the Elfor Prof apparatus, in addition to galvanization, is electrophoresis. In this mode, local administration of pharmaceutical preparations is carried out in the body.