The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially recognized pain as the 5th vital sign, following blood pressure, respiration, pulse, and body temperature. Pain is a sensation everyone experiences, but it is far more complex than just a "achy feeling".
In daily life, pain is always around, troubling countless people. It can be an occasional sharp pain or a persistent dull ache. Ranging from simple muscle soreness to complex chronic disease-related pain, pain reminds us of its existence in various forms. So, what exactly is pain? And how should we deal with it?
Pain is a protective response of the body to potential or actual injury. It is transmitted to the brain via the nervous system, alerting us to abnormal conditions in the body. It is not merely a symptom, but a disease itself. The World Health Organization (WHO) states: Acute pain is a symptom, while chronic pain is a disease.
Acute pain usually occurs suddenly, characterized by being short-lived and intense. It is mostly caused by external injuries, trauma, or acute illnesses. This type of pain often relieves on its own once the injury is healed or the disease is cured. In contrast, chronic pain is a long-lasting or recurrent pain that typically lasts for more than 3 months. It may be caused by chronic diseases, neuropathy, or tissue damage, making its treatment and management more complex.
At this point, it is necessary to emphasize again the particularity of chronic pain—it is not only a symptom, but more likely to become an independent disease state, exerting a profound impact on the physical and mental health of patients.
The World Health Organization (WHO) classified chronic pain as an independent disease in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD) in 2018, dividing it into seven major categories, including chronic musculoskeletal pain.
What is Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain?
Musculoskeletal pain refers to pain occurring in muscles, bones, joints, tendons, or soft tissues. It involves more than 150 diseases of the human locomotor system, including common conditions such as joint pain, neck and shoulder pain, low back pain, limb pain, spine-related pain, fibromyalgia, and myofascitis.
Common diseases associated with musculoskeletal pain include, but are not limited to, those that cause musculoskeletal pain, such as dizziness, headache, stiff neck, cervical spondylosis, frozen shoulder, lumbar disc herniation, sciatica, arthritis, lumbar muscle strain, bone hyperplasia, heel pain, ankylosing spondylitis, Parkinson's disease, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
How Does Interferential Current Relieve Pain
Interferential current therapy originated in the early 1950s. Over the past half-century, to expand the application range of interferential current and enhance its stimulation effect, continuous in-depth research has been conducted on interferential current, and many improvements and innovations have been made to relevant therapeutic technologies. The interferential wave therapy device is a therapeutic equipment improved based on the characteristics of interferential current.
Interferential wave is a commonly used physical therapy method, widely applied in the fields of pain management and rehabilitation. It stimulates nerves and muscles through specific frequencies of current, helping to relieve pain, promote blood circulation, reduce inflammation and accelerate tissue repair.
As a non-invasive physical therapy method, interferential wave therapy is widely used in pain management and rehabilitation. The mechanism of its pain relief and the effect of its clinical application deserve attention. The following is a sharing combined with some clinical literatures:
Observation on the Efficacy of Interferential Wave Therapy in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
Treatment Method
The combined therapy of local mud therapy and interferential wave therapy was adopted. Treatment duration: local mud therapy was administered once a day, 20 minutes per session; interferential wave therapy was also given once a day, 20 minutes per session. The total number of treatments was 24 sessions.
Conclusion
Clinical observations show that interferential wave therapy has a definite effect in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, and it is worthy of widespread application.
Clinical Observation on Massage Combined with Interferential Wave Therapy for Acute Lumbar Disc Herniation
Treatment Method
Interferential wave therapy was applied on the basis of massage.
Conclusion
Combined with interferential wave therapy can effectively improve the symptoms of patients with acute LDH (Lumbar Disc Herniation), and it is superior to interferential wave therapy alone. It can be used as an effective treatment method in clinical practice.
Clinical Observation on Interferential Wave Combined with Magnetic Vibration Heat Therapy for Lumbar Disc Herniation
The control group was given conventional traction combined with massage therapy, while the study group received interferential wave therapy combined with magnetic vibration heat therapy.
The combined treatment of lumbar disc herniation with interferential wave and magnetic vibration heat therapy has a definite effect. Compared with traditional treatment methods, it can shorten the treatment time, alleviate pain, restore the normal physiological functions of the human body, significantly improve the therapeutic effect, reduce the treatment course, and achieve high patient satisfaction. Therefore, it is worthy of clinical promotion and application.
Efficacy Analysis of Super Interferential Wave in the Treatment of Closed Soft Tissue Injury
Treatment Method
The cross-fixation method was adopted, with electrodes attached. The treatment modes and frequencies were continuously adjusted, and the treatment was performed automatically.
Conclusion
Super interferential wave therapy has the characteristics of definite curative effect and good tolerance, and is worthy of clinical promotion and application.
Interferential wave therapy can be combined with other therapies (such as shock wave therapy, microwave therapy, ultrasound therapy, exercise therapy, etc.) to exert a synergistic effect and enhance the therapeutic effect.
References Cited in This Article
[1] Li Y. Observation on the Efficacy of Interferential Wave Therapy in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis[J]. Guide of China Medicine, 2015, 13(6): 152-152.
[2] Lu H J, Zhao Y, Peng X Y. Clinical Observation on Massage Combined with Interferential Wave Therapy for Acute Lumbar Disc Herniation[J]. Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation, 2015, 30(3): 221-222.
[3] Fu X Y, Wang M L, Xie G P. Clinical Observation on Interferential Wave Combined with Magnetic Vibration Heat Therapy for Lumbar Disc Herniation[J]. Chinese Journal of Convalescent Medicine, 2016, 25(3): 262-263.
[4] Chang S N. Efficacy Analysis of Super Interferential Wave in the Treatment of Closed Soft Tissue Injury[C]//Proceedings of the 22nd Conference on Convalescent Rehabilitation of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2011: 203-204.
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