Iontophoresis

electricity for treatment at the physiotherapist has long been nothing new for many people and is more or less part of the Standard program in the treatment of, for example Knee problems. But use the electricity to do so To transport substances into the body is new to many of us. But that is exactly what iontophoresis does. How, however, does she manage the fabrics through our? largest protective shield, the skin to transport?

To understand the principle you have to be aware of a few things about electricity. Electricity consists of very small flowing particles, the Ions (hence the name IONtophoresis). As with a magnet, there are two different types of particles, comparable to a plus and a minus pole. Such with a lot of positive (plus) charge and less positive, namely negative charge. They also don't “like” each other and repel. Positive 'Plus "particles are also like with magnets repelled by a positive pole and attracted by the negative pole. Both 'Minus "particles it behaves exactly reversed and they are attracted to the positive pole. Transferred to electricity, the poles are called Electrodes. The positive pole in this case is the anode, the negative pole the cathode. If you apply current to these two electrodes like this the particles start to flow. It is well known that the current, when it flows, can also penetrate the interior of the body, because who has not already had one? Blow on the fence to get.

So the current somehow manages to overcome the skin as our protective shield in order to flow without going wrong way to its positive or negative pole. Iontophoresis uses electricity as a transporter. So you also take similarly charged particles as the current and these flow when you apply current (just like their related particles) in the current to the minus or plus pole. One can Medication change so that they are a Plus charge received and so then migrate to the negative pole (anode) when applying electricity or of course that they negatively charged and flow to the positive pole (cathode). As you know, electricity permeates every structure of the body can also use drugs in very deep structures and tissues or even into blood reach. The longer it is applied and the larger the area on which it is applied together with the drug the more drug can penetrate the body and develop its effect.

How the current gets into the body during iontophoresis varies. Either one sticks the electrodes directly onto the body or leave the stream flow through water into the body. The adhesive position for direct current delivery can be chosen so that the distance between the electrodes covers the area on which the drug is to act. The second indirect method is this Tap water iontophoresis. One or more chambers of a bath are used here filled with water and the two Electrodes immersed in water and the stream runs through the water. You can do so by immersing yourself in the water complete hands or feet to treat.

When is iontophoresis used?

The Iontophoresis is very versatile and can bring drugs to their target site very quickly. If the electrodes are taped directly to the skin, the drug will often as an ointment or over a cellulose paper applied to the skin. So be for example Painkiller (= Analgesics) in case of injuries brought in. Also at rheumatic diseases or Joint wear (=arthrosis) the method is used. The medication should be here directly into the joint penetration. The most famous example of pain relievers is certainly the active ingredient Diclofenac (=Voltaren®).

Those affected continue to benefit Tendon problems (=Tendinopathies). Skin scars can also be treated with the active ingredient tretinoin. In addition, so can Cellulite treated with gels containing androstanolone. Be in cosmetics Ointments and creams on the face introduced via iontophoresis. The electrodes are similar to tweezers and the current is passed over moistened cotton wool pads.

The application comes with the bathroom often with excessive sweating (= Hyperhidrosis) to train. Then you put that affected body part in the water bathe.g. Hands or feet. If you have a lot of armpit sweat, you can take a bath instead also sponges soaked in water in the Armpit region and so use the pipe through the water. Since drugs are not used directly here, this is how it works so far very unclear. In addition, those affected benefit numerous, difficult to treat warts, Scar, Carpal tunnel syndrome or local Muscle aches from treatment with iontophoresis in a water bath.

Also with the Finding the hereditary disease Cystic fibrosis Iontophoresis is used. With this disease, sweat production is disturbed and is controlled by the Introduction of the drug pilocarpine tested.

What does such therapy look like?

The first thing is the skin freed from fat on the affected areas. This disturbs the power line namely enormous. Simple soap is sufficient for this. Also have to Metal parts like rings and jewelry removed, since they are conductive and cause burns could.

The treatment is then started after the drug has been applied with light currents and this slowly increases up to a magnitude of 10-30mA controllable by a regulator on the device. The individual feeling of the patient is groundbreaking here. The electricity is increased based on the "feel-good factor". Pain means that the current is too high. A muscle response can be felt from around 10mA. For comparison, a normal light bulb works with a current of 430mA.

At the end of the treatment, they are settled Then slowly decrease the current again. The whole thing happens in one Period of about 10 minutes up to a quarter of an hour. If those affected can be helped in this way, too Home appliances available when a Long-term treatment necessary is.
On average will be 3-5 sessions per week at the beginning recommended. To maintain the success of the therapy, later 1 session per week recommended. For tap water iontophoresis were from an American skin institute Success rates of over 80% described.

The bathroom is not a full bath like in the bathtub at home. Rather, the bathroom of the home device is only filled 3-4 cm with water and only the desired body parts are held in the water.

When should I not treat with iontophoresis?

Contraindications are not very numerous but significant.

Allowed through the flow of electricity never patients with pacemakers treated with iontophoresis. Not because of the medication, but because of the current flow. This can seriously disrupt the “power balance” of a pacemaker and its function can be impaired.
Since that heart is "driven" by the body's own current impulses, patients should be Cardiac arrhythmias not be treated as it can and can worsen this life-threatening complications could lead. In addition, should open or inflamed wounds or skin lesions no iontophoresis should be used. Smaller defects can with vaseline are covered and are thus shielded from electricity and those affected can still be treated.

Also Pregnant women should not be exposed to any current flows. Effects of electricity on the child would be unpredictable and there are no studies to show that they are safe. Even in patients with Metal parts on the body the pros and cons should be carefully weighed. Piercings can simply removed are problematic Joint prostheses on the knees or hips or screws, nails or plates that have been inserted into broken body parts. Also the IUD for contraception consists partly of metal and should not in the treatment area lie. Patients too with disturbed pain sensation Therapy is not recommended as injuries such as burns may be noticed too late or not at all.

What are the side effects?

General is that Electricity is not harmful to the body. In a few cases it can to light electric shocks come (especially when putting parts of the body in and out). However, if used carefully and correctly, this should be prevented.

in the Extreme case are Pain and blistering the consequence. This can be done by precise control of the skin under the electrodes during treatment. Also Tingling sensation or light stinging has been described, but this disappears mostly by itself again. Immediately after the treatment, those affected can Skin areas be reddened and small vesicles may appear.

In the worst case, the changed places can be under the electrodes damaged by chemical burns be. This must necessarily be communicated to the therapist for the next Optimize treatments and to prevent further damage.