Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “ELECTROTHERAPY”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 559 records · Page 31Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Voice disorders in children.

The pediatric otolaryngologist has an especially important role in the differential diagnosis and treatment of two voice disorders; these are the voice quality problems (dysphony) and the resonance problems (rhinophony). The first step in the examination is to preclude the organic causes. The functional dysphonia is mostly related to voice abuse/misuse, but may be present on a psychosomatic basis; environmental factors can also play a role in the etiology and the personality structure has been found to be very relevant. The perceptual evaluation of voice is of obvious importance. Endoscopy with a transnasal flexible scope makes it possible, in practically all cases, to identify the morphodynamic changes. Stroboscopy and phonetography can be carried out only in older children, sometimes a 'trial treatment' is of valuable help. The therapy can be divided into five groups (counselling, voice re-education, drug treatment, psychotherapy, surgery), but should be always individual. An open question: how to choose the preferable treatment of vocal nodules: surgery, conservative or wait-and-see? According to a detailed survey in Kurume University Hospital the following can be stated: if the patient is in trouble due to hoarseness, and immediate improvement of his voice is necessary, surgery should be indicated; if they need the improvement but do not need it urgently, voice therapy is recommended; without motivation vocal hygiene is proposed. No matter what treatment patients receive, their voices improve in the majority after puberty, but 15% of the patients do not show any improvement. In cases of hoarseness due to long-term postintubational glottic lesions logopedic treatment is the only therapeutic possibility. The delay of speech development of tracheotomized children can and should be avoided by applying proper cannula technique and by logopedic training. The physiological nasality which depends upon the undisturbed activity of the velopharyngeal closure, can become pathologic in four forms: closed, open, mixed and alternating nasality (rhinophonolalia). In the diagnosis of hyperrhinophony due to VPI X-ray procedures, supplemented with nasendoscopy, proved to be the most informative methods, the etiology (neuromyogen processes) may be revealed by electrophysiological methods; the voice and speech can be assessed and visualized by nasometry, but the detailed speech evaluation is indispensable. The basic possibilities of treatment are as follows: speech therapy, surgery, speech bulb, electrotherapy and medicines. The basis of operative treatment is flap surgery. The anatomical result of 1000 (velo) pharyngoplasties carried out in Madarász and Heim Pál Children's Hospital (Budapest) is good in 98%, the hyperrhinophony ceased or became minimal in 90% after surgery. The ideal age for operation is 4.5 years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Real time recognition of complete atrioventricular blocks.

Common heart arrhythmia monitors are limited to the electrical activity of the ventricles. Severe cardiac malfunctions exhibit typical defects of atrioventricular conduction which often can be efficiently treated with medicine or electrotherapy. The method described here enables the detection of complete atrioventricular blocks and may be used for the improvement of arrhythmia monitoring.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1994

The use of patterned neuromuscular stimulation to improve hand function following surgery for ulnar neuropathy.

A 60-year-old man with wasting and weakness of the right hand following ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow was referred for electrotherapy. An ulnar nerve transposition had been performed 2 years previously. This had produced some improvement in nerve conduction without significantly improving hand muscle function. The right first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI) was stimulated for 4 hours per day over a 6-week period with a stimulus pattern replicating the discharge of a single motor unit from a healthy, fatigued FDI (patterned neuromuscular stimulation or PNMS). The response was assessed using a single case design. Significant improvements in the strength and fatigue resistance of the FDI were observed, associated with improvements in general hand function. PNMS may be useful in restoring hand function in patients with muscle atrophy following entrapment neuropathy.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed2004

Trismus in head and neck oncology: a systematic review.

The aim of this review was to identify systematically, criteria for trismus in head and neck cancer, the evidence for risk factors for trismus and the interventions to treat trismus. Three databases were searched (time period 1966 to June 2003) for the text "trismus" or "restricted mouth opening". Included in the review were clinical studies (> or = 10 patients). Two observers independently assessed the papers identified. In 12 studies nine different criteria for trismus were found without justifying these criteria. Radiotherapy (follow-up: 6-12 months) involving the structures of the temporomandibular joint and or pterygoid muscles reduces mouth opening with 18% (sd: 17%). Exercises using a therabite device or tongue blades increase mouth opening significantly (no follow-up), effect sizes (ES) 2.6 and 1.5 respectively. Microcurrent electrotherapy (follow-up 3 months) and pentoxifylline (no follow-up) increases mouth opening significantly (ES for both: 0.3).

Head and Neck Neoplasms↗
PubMed2005

Osteoarthritis: an overview of the disease and its treatment strategies.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is currently defined by the American College of Rheumatology as a "heterogeneous group of conditions that leads to joint symptoms and signs which are associated with defective integrity of articular cartilage, in addition to related changes in the underlying bone at the joint margins." Its prevalence after the age of 65 years is about 60% in men and 70% in women. The etiology of OA is multifactorial, with inflammatory, metabolic, and mechanical causes. A number of environmental risk factors, such as obesity, occupation, and trauma, may initiate various pathological pathways. OA indicates the degeneration of articular cartilage together with changes in subchondral bone and mild intraarticular inflammation. The principal treatment objectives are to control pain adequately, improve function, and reduce disability. Acetaminophen is frequently used for symptomatic OA with mild to moderate pain. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are more effective in the case of moderate-severe pain, but they have an increased risk of serious upper gastrointestinal adverse events. The newer cyclooxygenase COX-2 specific inhibitors (Coxibs) are as efficacious as traditional NSAIDs and have a better gastrointestinal safety profile. Other compounds (eg, chondroitin sulfate, diacerein, glucosamine sulfate) have a symptomatic effect that is slower and less than that of NSAIDs. The structure-modifying effects of drugs are currently being evaluated, and both glucosamine sulfate and diacerein have been shown in some trials to have a beneficial structural effect. Nonpharmacological interventions are frequently and widely used in the management of OA patients, but there is little evidence that they are effective: the best studied and most successful nonpharmacological interventions are patient education, self-management, and exercise. There is some evidence for the pain-relieving efficacy of thermotherapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) but not of electrotherapy, acupuncture, homeopathy, or manual therapy. The value of interventions aimed at improving function and maximizing independence (occupational therapy, walking aids, workplace adaptation) is also unclear. The disease course and patient's requirements often change over time, thus requiring a periodic review and readjustment of therapy rather than the rigid continuation of a single treatment.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dose-response for chiropractic care of chronic low back pain.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: There have been no trials of optimal chiropractic care in terms of number of office visits for spinal manipulation and other therapeutic modalities. PURPOSE: To conduct a pilot study to make preliminary identification of the effects of number of chiropractic treatment visits for manipulation with and without physical modalities (PM) on chronic low back pain and disability. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Randomized controlled trial with a balanced 4x2 factorial design. Conducted in the faculty practice of a chiropractic college outpatient clinic. PATIENT SAMPLE: Seventy-two patients with chronic, nonspecific low back pain of mechanical origin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Von Korff pain and disability (100-point) scales. METHODS: Patients were randomly allocated to visits (1, 2, 3 or 4 visits/week for 3 weeks) and to treatment regimen (spinal manipulation only or spinal manipulation with PM). All patients received high-velocity low-amplitude spinal manipulation. Half received one or two of the following PM at each visit: soft tissue therapy, hot packs, electrotherapy or ultrasound. RESULTS: Pain intensity: At 4 weeks, there was a substantial linear effect of visits favoring a larger number of visits: 5.7 points per 3 visits (SE=2.3, p=.014). There was no effect of treatment regimen. At 12 weeks, the data suggested the potential for a similar effect of visits on patients receiving both manipulation and PM. Functional disability: At 4 weeks, a visits effect was noted (p=.018); the slope for group means was approximately 5 points per 3 visits. There were no group differences at 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: There was a positive, clinically important effect of the number of chiropractic treatments for chronic low back pain on pain intensity and disability at 4 weeks. Relief was substantial for patients receiving care 3 to 4 times per week for 3 weeks.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Human herpes virus-8 serology and DNA analysis in recipients of renal allografts showing Kaposi's sarcoma and their respective donors.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) developed among 11 of 416 renal allograft recipients transplanted between 1985 and 2000. Only 3 among 364 Caucasian recipients developed KS, while it affected 8 of 52 Black patients, all of whom had been born in African countries (P <.001). All patients had their immunosuppression reduced; two also received daunorubicin and one received electrotherapy. Three patients developed accelerated renal allograft dysfunction, probably due to the reduced immunosuppression. Remission of KS was observed in seven patients, while lesions stabilized or improved partially in the other four. After resuming dialysis 2 of 11 patients died; both were in KS remission. Human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8) serology and DNA analysis was evaluated in sera obtained from seven donors: all were negative. Conversely, among eight sera collected pretransplant from the nine living recipients, HHV-8 IgG was detected in six and DNA was present in one. HHV-8 IgG was expressed in all patients (9/9) at some point posttransplant; DNA was detected in three patients. Therefore, the robust ethnic predisposition to KS was associated with a high pretransplant prevalence of HHV-8 among African recipients. Although some seroconversions were detected posttransplant, there was no evidence for donor-to-recipient transmission.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Pacemaker therapy in very elderly patients: long-term survival and prognostic parameters.

BACKGROUND: Permanent pacing is the therapy of choice for treating severe and/or symptomatic bradyarrhythmia. However, augmented life expectancy and increasing health care expenditures have led to questions concerning the routine use of electrotherapy in very elderly patients. This study is aimed at assessing data on the actual number, characteristics, and survival of patients requiring pacing therapy at age > or =80 years. METHODS: Between 1971 and 2000, 1588 patients aged > or =80 years completed a standardized 6- to 12-month follow-up after pacemaker (PM) implantation, resulting in a total of 5244 patient years. Kaplan-Meier analyses were computed to visualize survival differences in various subgroups and implantation periods. RESULTS: Today, patients aged > or =80 years account for 32% of all PM implantations. An increasing 5-year survival after PM implantation to the current rate of 66% was found, compared to 37% and 47% in the previous decades. Based on a mean survival time of 8 years, clinical symptoms can be effectively treated with costs of < or =500 dollars per patient per year. Prognostic parameters were the decade of implantation (relative risk [RR] 0.80, CI 0.67-0.96, P < or =.02), a history of presyncope (RR 0.73, CI 0.57-0.95, P < or =.02), and male sex (RR 1.20, CI 1.04-1.40, P < or =.02). However, none of these parameters can be recommended for estimating outcome or for guiding device selection. CONCLUSIONS: Patients aged > or =80 years account for an increasing portion of PM implantations. Considering the remaining life expectancy of 8 years in these patients, PM therapy is a clinically and economically effective therapeutic option to control bradyarrhythmia-related symptoms.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Intravesical bladder stimulation in myelodysplasia.

Intravesical transurethral bladder stimulation has been used as a diagnostic and rehabilitative technique in children with a neurogenic bladder for 3 years. The program has expanded from 10 to 42 patients undergoing a significant number of therapy sessions. The technique presently is done on an outpatient basis. The child is catheterized for 90 minutes and undergoes electrotherapy for 60 minutes, ideally 3 to 5 days per week. An individual series consists of 15 to 30 daily sessions. Presently, 62 patients have been evaluated and 42 have had a least 1 complete series. This ongoing program has provided more data to classify better patients who can expect success with the program. Of the patients who presented initially with detrusor contractions and areflexia 80 and 33 per cent, respectively, can expect to void to completion or have full sensation so as to perform timely clean intermittent catheterization. A total of 21 patients underwent at least 3 series, and 38 per cent void with low pressure and total continence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

The use of electrical current in the treatment of nonunions.

The use of electrostimulation in the treatment of nonunions in human beings is gaining in popularity. Increased understanding of the electrophysiology of fracture healing has lead to advances in the utilization of electric currents to stimulate nonunions to heal without resorting to major orthopedic surgery and its attendant risks. Most workers report success rates of 75 to 85 per cent, which are comparable to rates achieved by more routine orthopedic techniques. Brighton suggested that the risk/benefit ratio was lower for direct-current treatment of nonunion than that associated with conventional bone-graft surgery in human beings. Such information is not yet available for the veterinary surgeon. However, some authors have questioned the glowing reports of successful electric stimulation of clinical nonunions, citing poor design of clinical trials, erratic or inappropriate selection of patients, and empiricism in interpretation of results. Although the use of electrotherapy for treatment of nonunions appears promising, much more work is needed to define those patients best able to respond favorably to such techniques. Nonunions in dogs and cats are now only rarely treated with electric current. To date, no major clinical studies have been published concerning such techniques, although much of the basic research in this area was done on animals. It would appear that the totally implantable stimulators have the most potential for use in small animals because minimal cooperation is required of the patient and client. Furthermore, such devices cannot be easily damaged or dislodged. Whether electric stimulation of nonunions in dogs and cats will replace or supplant conventional orthopedic techniques remains to be seen.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Back pain in the general population of Catalonia (Spain). Prevalence, characteristics and therapeutic behavior].

BACKGROUND: Back pain is a common symptom of health assistance in Western countries. The goal of the present survey was to establish the prevalence of back pain in the general population in Catalonia, as well as to establish its characteristics, its relationship to sociodemographic variables, the therapeutic behavior followed by those affected and the associated-impairment and disabilities for the sufferers. METHODS: The survey was a descriptive study including a sample of 1,964 people, obtained from the census (1991) and representative of the population older than 18 years. The study was done in 1994 and data were obtained by means of a telephone interview. The prevalence of pain in the last six months was determined. Among those suffering back pain, additional information was obtained concerning its characteristics, the relationship with socio-demographic variables, the therapeutic behaviors used by patients, and the personal, social and work impairment and disabilities. RESULTS: Back pain was highly prevalent (50.9%), appeared in all ages (mean age of 47.6 years), was the highest in women (60.7%), in manual workers (54.9%) and in those less educated (71.1%). Back pain was long lasting (69.2% more than 3 years), frequent (49.7% more than the half of the days), and highly painful (severe-unbearable in 51.4%). The therapeutic behaviors most commonly used were the visit to the physician (71.9%), the use of alternative medical treatments (24.7%), physical therapy (22.7%, physical exercises and electrotherapy) and self-medication (14.6%, being acetylsalicylic acid the most employed). In general, the duration and degree of improvement was variable. Back pain limited the daily activities (36.7%) and forced to bed rest (22.7%). It was also a significant reason for time off work (17%) and disability pension (6.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Back pain has a very high prevalence in the Catalonian population and is an important reason to seek medical attention. It greatly limits the daily personal and professional activities.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2001

Pelvic floor rehabilitation in the female according to the integral theory of female urinary incontinence. First report.

A new approach to pelvic floor rehabilitation is presented. The aim was to strengthen the three directional muscle forces observed during effort along with their ligamentous insertions. A new anatomical classification guided diagnosis of anatomical defects in the anterior, middle and posterior compartments of the vagina. Where relevant, HRT was administered to prevent long-term collagen loss. Electrotherapy, fast and slow twitch exercises strengthened the striated muscles of the pelvic floor and, therefore, their insertions also. Sixty patients aged 15--86 (mean age: 55 years) were independently assessed at the end of the 3 month programme using the same semiquantitative questionnaire and self-assessment. The median improvement rate per symptom was 65%. Symptom improvement was: stress incontinence,78%; urgency, frequency, 61%; nocturia, 75%; pelvic pain of unknown origin, 65%; involuntary leakage, 68% and bowel problems, 78%. Three patients reported significant worsening of their stress symptoms. This method potentially broadens the conditions amenable to nonsurgical therapy. The preliminary results are promising, and appear to sustain the theory on which they are based. More objective and longer term data, and especially, comparative testing of this regime by other investigators is required.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Perspectives for microelectrode arrays for biosensing and membrane electroporation.

Electrochemical microelectrode devices are among the great challenges for bioelectrochemistry, cell biology and recently also for biomedical research and new clinical electrotherapies. Two representative cases in cell biology and medical research for new trends in the technical devices are selected, heading at new diagnostic and therapeutic clinical applications. One example is from the field of biosensing cholinergic neurotransmitter substances by the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AcChoR) in solid-supported lipid bilayer membrane and the other one refers to new developments of electrode systems for the electrochemical delivery of drugs and genes to biological cell aggregates and tissue by the powerful method of membrane electroporation. In both cases addressed to, the new developments include the use of electrical feedback control of electrode arrays for biosensing processes as well as for the extent and duration of tissue electroporation. In line with the impressive advances in medical microsurgery, where increasingly smaller organ targets become accessible, microelectrode systems have become a continuous technical challenge for bioanalytical purposes and, as discussed here in some detail, for the new field of the electroporative delivery of effector substances like drugs and genes, using miniaturized electrochemical electrode arrays.

Biosensing Techniques↗
PubMed1998

A century of Dutch neurology.

The Netherlands Society of Neurology evolved from the Society of Psychiatry founded in 1871. The name was changed into Netherlands Society of Psychiatry and Neurology (NSPN) in 1897. In the same year, the word neurology was also added to the name of the journal. The Society steadily blossomed, but in 1909 the first signs of dissatisfaction occurred: the Amsterdam Neurologists Society was founded. A few split-offs would follow. The number of members of the NSPN increased from 205 in 1920 to 585 in 1960. In the early 1960s, the Society was reorganised and would consist of two sections, one for psychiatry and one for neurology. However, this would not last, as a full separation was established in 1974. For several reasons, the name of the journal was changed four times until it assumed its present name in 1974. The 100th volume of CNN was not published, as expected. in 1996, but in 1998, because of two skipped publication years, one during WWII and another in the 1970s. During the last decades of the nineteenth century, teaching of neurology was mostly given within the frame of psychiatry, following the German tradition of 'brainpsychiatry' (organic or biologic psychiatry). The first official chair of psychiatry was founded at Utrecht, 1893 (Winkler). In Amsterdam, private teachers such as Delprat taught 'electro-therapy and nervous diseases' since the 1880s. The first extraordinary chair of neurology and electrotherapy was founded for his successor, Wertheim Salomonson in 1899. The first university clinic for psychiatry and neurology started at the Amsterdam Municipal University, when Winkler became professor of psychiatry and neurology in Amsterdam in 1896. Around the turn of the century, chairs of psychiatry and neurology were also founded in Groningen and Leiden. Separate chairs for neurology and psychiatry appeared in Amsterdam in 1923 and in Utrecht in 1936. Following an initiative of Brouwer, the first neurological university clinic opened its doors in Amsterdam in 1929. In the 20th century, a number specialised peripheral neurological clinics and epilepsy institutes were founded. In 1909, the the Central Institute for Brain Research was established in Amsterdam.

Electroconvulsive Therapy↗
PubMed2003

The effect of combined therapy (ultrasound and interferential current) on pain and sleep in fibromyalgia.

Multidisciplinary treatment has proven to be the best therapeutic option to fibromyalgia (FM) and physiotherapy has an important role in this approach. Considering the controversial results of electrotherapy in this condition, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of combined therapy with pulsed ultrasound and interferential current (CTPI) on pain and sleep in FM. Seventeen patients fulfilling FM criteria were divided into two groups, CTPI and SHAM, and submitted to pain and sleep evaluations. Pain was evaluated by body map (BM) of the painful areas; quantification of pain intensity by visual analog scale (VAS); tender point (TP) count and tenderness threshold (TT). Sleep was assessed by inventory and polysomnography (PSG). After 12 sessions of CTPI or SHAM procedure, patients were evaluated by the same initial protocol. After treatment, CTPI group showed, before and after sleep, subjective improvement of pain in terms of number (BM) and intensity (VAS) of painful areas (P<0.001, both); as well as objective improvement, with decrease in TP count and increase in TT (P<0.001, both). Subjective sleep improvements observed after CTPI treatment included decrease in morning fatigue and in non-refreshing sleep complaint (P<0.001, both). Objectively, PSG in this group showed decrease in sleep latency (P<0.001) and in the percentage of stage 1 (P<0.001), increase in the percentage of slow wave sleep (P<0.001) and in sleep cycle count (P<0.001). Decrease in arousal index (P<0.001), number of sleep stage changes (P<0.05) and wake time after sleep onset (P<0.05), were also observed and no difference regarding pain or sleep parameters were verified after SHAM procedure. This study shows that CTPI can be an effective therapeutic approach for pain and sleep manifestations in FM.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1997

Targeting a key enzyme in cell growth: a novel therapy for cancer.

The enzyme ribonucleotide reductase (RR) controls the synthesis of DNA precursors and thus plays a pivotal role in cell growth. Since the free-radical-containing active-site of this enzyme can be disabled by a lone electron, low-level direct electric current should have an inhibitory effect on RR and, thus, on uncontrolled cell proliferation. This hypothesis is strongly supported by the results of several cancer electrotherapy studies reported over the years.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Physical therapy for the equine back.

Before a physical therapy and rehabilitation program is suggested, the end requirement must be considered. All physiotherapeutic machines are subject to laboratory screening. In the United States, the approval of the Food and Drug Administration is required; in the United Kingdom, certification by the National Physics Laboratory has been required by law since January 1996. Laboratory experiments are continually conducted to examine and evaluate the effects on tissues of varied electrical waveforms, low-intensity electrical currents, sound waves, and light rays delivered by a variety of therapeutic apparatuses. It is interesting to note that the tissues used for this work are derived from the rabbit, rat, and chick embryo. If these investigative procedures demonstrate benefit to tissue behavior following trauma in laboratory animals, they are then considered to be of benefit to humans. Surely, it must follow that equal benefit is to be derived by other species with similar tissues. Despite veterinarian prejudice to the contrary and by careful case selection rather than random application, horses can profit from the application of electrotherapy and derive benefit from rehabilitation; thus, an informed physical therapist should be considered a useful member of a "care" team. Because no two cases are ever the same, it is impossible to write a "recipe" book stating exactly the dosage, treatment time, or applications per week or per day. Success depends on an in-depth assessment of individual needs followed by an informed choice of therapy. In the case of physical therapy, this necessitates the use of the appropriate modality at the appropriate time, always taking into account the fact that tissue is living and is therefore in a continually changing state. The art of the physical therapist is to read the situation each time a patient is seen and to proceed according to the findings of the moment. The author regrets that there are no double-blind trials to quote or published research available to substantiate rehabilitation methods. The therapy principles relating to proprioceptive input, cortical re-education, muscle recoordination, and atrophy following both micro- and macrotrauma have been transferred in field work from humans to horses.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[Physical analgesic therapy in the elderly. Its interest in the management of headaches].

A FREQUENT AND DISABLING AFFECTION: Headaches in elderly patients are far more frequent that what is generally presumed; their prevalence is estimated of between 25 and 54% after the age of 70. They must be treated because of the potential impact on the patients' mental, functional and social status. NON-MEDICINAL ANALGESIC TREATMENTS: Various treatments have demonstrated their efficacy on different types of headache and are recommended in the international consensuses. This is notably the case with electrotherapy, cryotherapy, massage and biofeedback the correct use by physiotherapists of which leads to a decrease in the pain, duration and frequency of the attacks, and improves the quality of life of these patients. OTHER PHYSICAL TREATMENTS: Techniques such as acupuncture, relaxation, manual therapy or postural training are less documented but can be proposed. Most of them, alone or in supplement to medicinal treatment, are particularly adapted to elderly patients and limit the need for drugs, the side effects and interactions of which may have severe consequences in fragile patients and those suffering from multiple diseases.

Aged↗