Galvanic Current

Dr. Irfanullah PT
Assistant Professor IPM&R KMU
 History of Galvanic Current
 The "Galvanic Current" used today to
facilitate delivery of beneficial effects, is
named after the Italian scientist Luigi
Galvani.
 In 1786 Luigi Galvani stimulated the
nerves and muscles of frog with electric
charges

 When his work was published in 1791, it

gave an enormous impetus to the
scientific experimentation in this realm.
As a consequence Humboldt called this
steady current as Galvanism.
 Galvanic Current
 It is a unidirectional Current of unvarying intensity
which can be drawn directly from dry cell batteries.
 It is also called as Constant direct Current,
Constant galvanism or galvanic type Current.
 Direct Current may be obtained from cell or an
alternating current supply by use of a current-
switching arrangement called a Rectifier.
 Rectification is the conversion of
alternating current into direct current.
 In modern devices, the polarity and thus the direction of
the flow of current, can also be reversed.
 Some apparatus have the capability of automatically
reversing polarity, in which case the physiologic effects
will be similar to AC current.
 Galvanic Current

• Galvanic current can be used as a

Constant and interrupted directed
current.
• IDC is also known as modified direct
current or interrupted galvanic current.
• IDC is a current whose flow stops and
starts at regular intervals.
 Interrupted direct current:

• If the continuous unidirectional current is

interrupted, it gives rise to series of pulses or phases
of unidirectional current.
• A current, which varies sufficiently in magnitude,
can stimulate a motor nerve and so produces
contraction of the muscles to which it supplies.
• Suitable current can also stimulate denervated
muscle. Intermittent direct currents are used in these
cases, which ranges from 0.01 to 300 ms.
• The equipment commonly provides duration of
0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10, 30, 100 and 300 ms.
• In an alternating current, the flow of electrons
constantly changes direction.
• Electrons flowing in an alternating current always
move from the negative to positive pole, reversing
its direction if polarity is reversed
 Interrupted Galvanic Current:

• It is called as long duration current having duration

of more than 1 ms upto 300 or 600 ms.
• Interruption is the most usual modification of direct
current, the flow of current commencing and
ceasing at regular intervals.
• The rise and fall of intensity may be sudden
(rectangular impulses) or gradual (saw-tooth,
triangular and trapezoidal impulses)
• An impulse of 100 ms duration is often used which
requires frequency of 30 Hz. But as you increase
the duration, frequency must be reduced.
• To eliminate the danger of chemical burn reverse
wave of current, i.e. depolarized impulses should
be used, which also reduces the skin irritation.
 Production of DC

• Production of interrupted DC is usually

accomplished in modern apparatus by circuits,
which employ transistors and timing devices.
• Current is always applied to the patient via
potentiometer as this allows the intensity of current
to be turned up from zero.
 Indication

• Stimulation of denervated muscle: For stimulation

of denervated muscle, interrupted direct current or
galvanic current is used which directly stimulate the
muscle fiber. When a muscle is deprived of its nerve
supply, changes in structure and properties tend to
occur. There is marked wasting of muscle fibres
and, if degeneration is of long standing, they tend to
become fibrosed and to lose their properties of
irritability, contractility, extensibility and elasticity.
 cont

• By electrical stimulation the process of muscle

wasting slows down, but it needs strong electrical
impulses for this purpose. Approximately 300
contractions per session are required, but this also
is not always practically possible due to muscle
fatigue. So for treatment to be effective at least 90
contractions need to be performed in a session. If
fatigue occurs soon, number of contractions may be
reduced and treatment time prolonged.
 Physiological effects and
therapeutic uses of galvanic current
• Relief of pain: Sensory stimulation of cutaneous
nerve endings inhibiting pain by means of “Pain
Gat” theory. Strong sensory stimulation blocks
the pain transmission at the level of spinal cord.
• Hyperemia occurring may help to remove the
nocioceptive substances and thus reducing pain
 cont
• Acceleration of healing: Various forms of electrical stimulation
have been shown to enhance healing. Increased rate of new
bone formation have been shown to occur when small direct
currents have been applied to fractures by implanted electrodes.
(Becker et al., 1977). This has been used successfully in the
treatment of non-union.(Brighton et al., 1981)The healing rate
of soft tissue wounds, particularly superficial open wounds,
have also benefitted from electrical stimulation. Although
supported by some good experiment evidence and clinical
research ,the therapeutic application of electric current for
healing does not seem to have been widely embraced.
 cont

• Stimulation of sensory nerves:

Interrupted Galvanic Current: This also
stimulates sensory nerves and results in
stabbing or burning sensation.
• When sensory nerve is stimulated by
interrupted galvanic current, it produces reflex
vasodilatation of superficial blood vessels. So
slight erythema is seen, this vasodilatation is
limited up to superficial area only.
 cont

Stimulation of motor nerve by galvanic current :

• If we stimulate motor nerve with interrupted
galvanic current it also produces muscle
contraction but because of frequent repeated
stimuli it produces muscle twitch followed by
immediate relaxation.
 cont

• Stimulation of motor nerve by galvanic current:

Interrupted direct current is used for stimulation of
denervated muscle therapeutically, when it is of
sufficient intensity and duration. Effective contraction is
obtained only when current rises slowly rather than
rising suddenly.
• An impulse of 100 ms is the shortest impulse for
satisfactory treatment of denervated muscle. So,
intensity and duration of the impulse are important
factors for stimulation of denervated muscle.
 cont
Chemical effects following stimulation:
• Chemical effects are produced at the electrodes due
to passing of direct current through the electrolyte.
It results in formation and accumulation of
chemicals at the electrode site resulting in chemical
or electrolytic burn.
 cont

• When an alternative current is used, chemicals

formed during one phase are neutralized during the
next phase as the ions move one way during one
phase and in reverse direction during the other
phase. In a condition, where the two phases are
equal, chemicals formed during one phase are
neutralized during the next phase.
 Application of D. C.

• A current density of two milli amperes per square

inch of pad is desirable.
• Duration of treatment usually last for 20 to 30
minutes.
• However the intensity and duration of the treatment
must be determined by the tolerance of the patient’s
skin.
• Treatment is usually applied on alternate days.
 Techniques of Treatment

• Among several indications of IDC muscle

stimulation is most important one.
• Here, treatment should be given in such a way that
all muscle fibers get stimulated properly.
• There are several methods to achieve this
1-Labile Technique
2-Group Stimulation
 Techniques of Treatment

1-Labile Technique:
o One electrode is fixed over the origin of muscle
group and other electrode, which is preferably
disc or pen electrode is held over the lower end
of the muscle belly to be stimulated.
o Movement of the electrode ensures proper
contraction or stimulation of all the muscle fibers.
o Also there is less skin irritation by this technique.
 Cont…

2-Group Stimulation:
o Active electrode is placed over the muscle group to
be stimulated (E.g. extensor muscles of wrist in
case of radial nerve palsy) and large indifferent
electrode is placed over convenient site to complete
the circuit.

o This is known as group stimulation technique.

 Dangers

• Electric shock
• Overdose Headache
• Faintness
• Itching and redness of the skin immediately
underneath the electrode pads.
• Swelling
• Burns
 Precautions

Any condition in which pathogenic organism may be

hazardous, Galvanic Current should be carefully
administered
• AIDS
• Hepatitis
 CAUTION:

 Firmly wrap all electrodes with a moistened cotton pledge.

 Always place passive electrode on right side of client’s
body to avoid current flow through the heart.
 Contraindication

 Hypersensitive skin or loss of skin sensation: as the person

would not know if the current as comfortable
 Metal plates or pins in the area
 IUD coils in the uterus
 Cardiac Pace maker and arrhythmias
 Epilepsy (Child with mental disturbance)
 Infected wound and skin lesion
 Unconscious patient
 Pregnancy: On pelvic, low back and abdomen
 High blood pressure, fever, infection
 Fear of electrical current / High nervous clients
END OF LECTURE 05