IFT Therapy at Home in Mukund Nagar, Pune

Some pain is not on the surface. It sits deep in a thigh, a shoulder or the muscles beside the spine, and a heat pack barely reaches it. Interferential current therapy is one of the electrical options physiotherapists turn to for that kind of ache. Two medium-frequency currents are directed through four pads so that they meet in the tissue and create a low-frequency pulse at the crossing point.

The general IFT therapy page covers the technique. Here we describe how a session runs in a Mukund Nagar home, what it can reasonably be expected to do and who should not have it.

A session from the first pad to the last exercise

1. Choosing a spot. You sit or lie where you can stay still, usually propped on pillows on the bed or in an armchair. A socket nearby helps.
2. Checking the skin. The physiotherapist looks at the area for cuts, rashes and scars, and tests that you can feel light touch and warmth normally.
3. Placing the pads. Four pads, in two pairs, are arranged on either side of the painful area so that the currents cross over it. Damp sponges or gel keep contact even.
4. Raising the intensity. The current is increased slowly until you feel a firm, comfortable buzzing. It should not hurt or make the muscle jump.
5. Running the treatment. Treatment runs for some minutes, and you can usually relax or do small movements. The physiotherapist checks the skin and your comfort during it.
6. Moving afterwards. When the pads come off, the pain may feel lower for a while, and that is a good time to do the exercises set for your problem.

Where it fits and where it does not

IFT is most often used for deep, aching muscle and joint pain, such as a stiff lower back after a long spell of sitting, an arthritic knee that is flaring, or pain around a shoulder. It may also be used to reduce muscle spasm. People who live in apartments and spend their days sitting often find that their stiffness is deep and widespread, and a session can make the exercise part of the visit easier.

It is not a treatment for the cause of the pain. The evidence for interferential current is limited, and reviews have not found it clearly better than other forms of electrotherapy or than exercise alone. We therefore use it for a limited time to make movement easier, and we stop if it brings no change. If your pain is mainly nerve-related, our sciatica treatment page for Mukund Nagar describes how those cases are managed.

Who should not have IFT

• People with a pacemaker, a defibrillator or another implanted electronic device.
• Anyone with a known or suspected clot in a leg vein, since stimulation could theoretically dislodge it.
• Pregnant women, over the abdomen and lower back.
• Areas of skin with infection, open wounds, active cancer or reduced sensation.
• Anyone with an uncontrolled heart rhythm problem, unless the doctor has agreed.
• Pads over the front of the neck, the eyes or the chest.

Older skin is thin and sensitive, so for elderly patients the physiotherapist keeps intensity low and checks the skin after treatment.

Combining IFT with active treatment

Pain relief is a window, not a destination. In practice, a visit with IFT usually continues with manual therapy or strengthening and stretching exercises, and a plan for what to do between visits. If you find the sessions help, the physiotherapist will watch for the point at which you need them less.

When aching pain is a warning

Deep pain with fever, a hot swollen limb, chest tightness, sudden weakness or pain after a significant injury is not suitable for electrical treatment and needs a doctor. A calf that is swollen, hot and painful in particular should be seen urgently.

Asking for IFT at home

Tell us about implants, pregnancy and skin problems when you use the booking page. The physiotherapist decides after assessment if IFT is suitable. You can read about visits in your neighbourhood on the Mukund Nagar page.