Interferential (Quadripolar Only)

Question 1

Indications

Answer 1

• Swelling
• Spasm
• Pain

Question 2

Contraindications

Answer 2

• Through the brain
• Over carotid sinus
• Pregnancy
• Mental impairment
• Over the eyes
• Hemorrhage, infection, malignancy (HIM)
• Pacemaker
• Through the heart
• Circulatory impairment
• Sensory impairment
• Nearby diathermy machine (15 - 20’)

Question 3

Physiological Effect

Answer 3

• Capacity to depolarize sensory nerve fibers (pain management)
• Capacity to depolarize motor nerve fibers (urinary incontinence management)
• Increased circulation (edema management)

Question 4

Protocol

Answer 4

• Requires carrier frequency to overcome skin resistance - typically 4000 Hz
• Requires variable frequency to interfere - typically 4001 - 4150 Hz
• Beat frequency: 1 - 150 Hz (difference between carrier and variable frequencies)
• Acute pain: sensory and sweep between 90 - 100 Hz
• Quadripolar: 4 electrodes, criss-cross pattern (2 channels)
• Scan/vector: rotates clover leaf pattern to treatment area
• Frequency sweep: gives a range of frequencies (to decrease accommodation and obtain effects at several frequencies)