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Interferential Current - IFC

Interferential current (IFC) involves generating two alternating currents at different frequencies that interfere when applied to produce an amplitude-modulated signal. IFC is used to reduce pain and muscle discomfort following injury by applying the currents using electrodes in a quad-polar or bipolar configuration. The frequency, amplitude, and electrode placement can be adjusted to achieve constructive or destructive wave interference for therapeutic effects without muscle fatigue.

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Bahadur Ali
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77 views

Interferential Current - IFC

Interferential current (IFC) involves generating two alternating currents at different frequencies that interfere when applied to produce an amplitude-modulated signal. IFC is used to reduce pain and muscle discomfort following injury by applying the currents using electrodes in a quad-polar or bipolar configuration. The frequency, amplitude, and electrode placement can be adjusted to achieve constructive or destructive wave interference for therapeutic effects without muscle fatigue.

Uploaded by

Bahadur Ali
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Interferential Current - IFC

Interferential Current
• History: In 1950 Nemec used interference
of electrical currents to achieve therapeutic
benefits.
– Two AC are generated on separate channels
(one channel produces a constant high
frequency sine wave (4000-5000Hz) and the
other a variable sine wave
– The channels combine/interface to produce a
frequency of 1-100 Hz
Interferential Currents
• When electrodes are arranged in a square and
interferential currents are passed through a
homogeneous medium a predictable pattern of
interference will occur
Effects of IFC treatment:
Effect of interferential Therapy depend upon:
• Magnitude of current
• Type of mode use- Rhythmic or constant
• Frequency range used
• Accuracy of electrode positioning
The Effects are:
Releif of pain
Motor stimulation
Positive effects of IFC include:
• reduction of pain and muscle discomfort
following joint or muscle trauma
• these effects can be obtained with the of
IFC and without associated muscle fatigue
which may predispose the athlete to further
injury.
Principles of wave interference -
Combined Effects
• Constructive, Destructive, & Continuous
• Constructive interference: when two
sinusoidal waves that are exactly in phase
or one, two, three or more wavelengths our
of phase, the waves supplement each other
in constructive interference

+ =
Principles of wave interference -
Combined Effects
• Destructive interference: when the two
waves are different by 1/2 a wavelength (of
any multiple) the result is cancellation of
both waves

+ =
Principles of wave interference -
Combined Effects
• Continuous Interference
– Two waves slightly out of phase collide and
form a single wave with progressively
increasing and decreasing amplitude

=
+
Amplitude-Modulated Beats:
• Rate at which the resultant waveform (from
continuous interference) changes
• When sine waves from two similar sources
have different frequencies are out of phase
and blend to produce the interference
beating effect
IFC
• Contraindications
Duration of tx 15-20 minutes
– Pain
Burstofmode
central
typically
origin applied 3x a week in 30
– minute
Pain of unknown origin
• Precautions
Indications
– same
Acuteaspain
all electrical currents
– Chronic pain
– Muscle spasm
IFC Techniques of treatment:
• Almost exclusively IFC is delivered using
the four-pad or quad-polar technique.
• Various electrode positioning techniques are
employed:
– Electrodes (Nemectrody: vacuum electrodes):
• four independent pads allow specific placement of
pads to achieve desired effect an understanding of
the current interference is essential
• four electrodes in one applicator allows IFC
treatment to very small surface areas.
Quad-polar Technique
• Pads placed at 45º angles from center of tx
area
• Can reduce inaccuracy of appropriate
tissues by selecting rotation or scan

Channel B Channel B

Channel A
Channel A SCAN
Bipolar Electrode Placement
• The mix of two channels occurs in
generator instead of tissues
• Biopolar does not penetrate tissues as
deeply, but is more accurate
• When effects are targeted for one muscle or
muscle group only one channel is used

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