In today’s world, sports and physical activities are an everyday occurrence for athletes and sports persons. Whether you are a professional athlete or a weekend sports warrior, dealing with sports-related injuries and pain is a common challenge. However, advancements in medical technology and therapeutic approaches have provided athletes with effective solutions to recover swiftly and get back to their active lifestyles.
One such promising therapy is Interferential Therapy, which has gained popularity for its efficacy in treating sports injuries and managing pain. In this blog, we will look into the structured application of IFT Therapy for sports injury rehabilitation and pain management, without worrying about unnecessary side effects.
What is IFT Therapy?
IFT therapy is a form of electrotherapy that utilizes low-frequency electrical stimulation to target specific areas of the body. It is an advanced form of TENS therapy. Unlike traditional transcutaneous applications, IFT employs the principle of interference, where two high-frequency electrical currents intersect to produce a low-frequency stimulation within the tissues. This modality of pain management aims to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, promote tissue healing, and improve muscle function.
Although IFT therapy is a widely popular electrotherapy, its mechanism may seem complex to those unfamiliar with the intricacies of this medical technology. To simplify the concept, let’s break down IFT therapy into a series of easy-to-understand steps.
Identify
Identifying the target area that needs the pain relief assessment is of primary importance. Once the area of the treatment is recognized, you can get ready to start with the therapy.
Placement
Two pairs of electrode pads shall be placed on your affected pain area. An IFT machine providing IFT therapy will always employ four electrodes and a dual channel. It will never work on a single channel. Keep in mind to place and position the electrodes in an intersecting manner to ensure a specific flow of current through the tissues.
Current Delivery
The IFT physiotherapy modality generates two medium-frequency currents with slightly different frequencies. These currents travel through separate electrodes and converge within the targeted tissues.
Interferential Current Creation
When the two medium-frequency currents overlap, they “interfere” with each other. This creates a beat frequency, which is a low-frequency current responsible for therapeutic benefits and reducing pain.
How does IFT Therapy treat Sports Injuries?
Pain Management
Pain is a common symptom associated with sports injuries, stemming from inflammation, tissue damage, and nerve irritation. The low-frequency electrical stimulation produced by IFT therapy interrupts the transmission of pain signals along the nerve pathways. This provides ultimate relief to the athlete during rehabilitation.
Reduction of Inflammation
Inflammation is a natural response of the body to tissue injury, but many times excessive inflammation delays healing and exacerbates the pain. The non-invasive electrical currents passed during the therapy stimulated improved blood circulation and enhanced the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the injured tissues. This facilitates the removal of metabolic waste products, accelerating the resolution of the inflammation.
Tissue Healing
Tissue Healing is a complex process involving inflammation and proliferation. IFT therapy enhances tissue healing by promoting cellular activities. These cellular activities allow the formation of new blood vessels. Additionally, IFT therapy also stimulates fibroblast activities, which are essential for tissue repair and remodeling of injured tissues, leading to faster tissue recovery.
Muscle Rehabilitation
Sports injuries often involve the damage of muscles, ranging from strains and tears to overuse injuries. IFT therapy plays a significant role in muscle rehabilitation by promoting muscle relaxation, reducing muscle spasms, and improving muscle function. The electrical impulses generated by IFT therapy stimulate muscle fibers, leading to muscle contraction and relaxation. This facilitates a reduction in muscle stiffness, allowing athletes to regain strength, flexibility, and range of motion more effectively.
Where do I get IFT Therapy?
While most physiotherapy centers provide access to IFT therapy, UltraCare PRO has a portable IFT solution for you with added benefits. Combo3 Plus is India’s premier portable physiotherapy device, providing the three most highly beneficial electrotherapies: IFT, EMS, and TENS.
IFT stands for interferential therapy, EMS stands for electrical multistimulation, and TENS stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. IFT uses low-frequency electrical stimulation to support tissue recovery and alleviate pain. EMS stimulates muscle contraction using electrical impulses to strengthen weak muscles and reduce swelling and pain. TENS therapy blocks the pain signals from reaching the brain and releases endorphins, which are the body’s natural feel-good hormones that give instant pain relief.
Now, you can sit back in the comfort of your home and decide which therapy will be ideal for your pain condition. Combo3 Plus allows you to choose and get the treatment you want without the hassle of commuting to the physiotherapy center for individual physiotherapy needs.
Additionally, the 12 adjustable modes and 30 preset programs of the device allow you to get personalized therapy with the aid of customizable intensities.
A 3-in-1 physiotherapy device and an ideal choice for treating sports-related injuries, Combo3 Plus is your best physiotherapy bet this season!