Tecar Therapy
Tecar therapy and how it works
Tecar therapy represents a true innovation in the field of physiotherapy. It is a device for endogenous thermotherapy based on the application of radiofrequency current waves that produce a warming reaction in the tissues.
By treating the injured area with biocompatible radial energy, metabolic processes are accelerated and the physiological processes of self-healing are stimulated.
Tecar therapy has found its application in orthopedics, neurology, rheumatology, neurosurgery, as well as in the rehabilitation of sports injuries.
Unlike other traditional methods (IR lamps, laser, ultrasound and electrotherapy), whose effect is limited to the surface layers of the body because they act from the outside, Tecar therapy with its capacitive and resistive modes can create a deep therapeutic effect that reaches deep within the treated area, thereby promoting natural regeneration processes and acting as an anti-inflammatory.
The analgesic effect of the therapy lasts up to 48 hours after application.
When we apply TECAR therapy
In its optional operation, Tecar therapy gives the physiotherapist a choice of three modes of heat application: HYPERTHERMIA (heat input), ATHERMIA (heat removal) and HOMEOTHERMIA (tissue biostimulation with heat).
Tecar is selected for operation based on these options and on the indications for use, depending on the diagnosis and the current phase of the injury: acute or chronic phase, along with the manifestations of the current clinical picture.
The field of application of Tecar therapy is very broad. Tecar is applied to all injuries and conditions of the musculoskeletal system with excellent results when it comes to analgesia (pain reduction), as well as swelling and reduced nerve conductivity.
In rheumatology, where the application of heat procedures is indicated as a way of resolving certain pathologies, Tecar can give an excellent result in reducing chronic pain in joint and periarticular structures, and improve mobility.
In neurology, in diagnoses with consequent problems of muscle tone (muscle spasticity), we use Tecar as an introduction to kinesitherapy (rehabilitation through exercise), while in certain injuries and conditions of the peripheral nerves this therapy also gives excellent results in pain treatment (the sciatic nerve). It is particularly effective in palsy of the VII cranial nerve (the facial nerve), where there is unilateral paralysis of the facial muscles.
The best results of this therapy are recorded in sports medicine. The effects of endogenous heat input into muscle and connective tissue have a positive effect on overall sports performance by reducing pain and tension in muscles and tendons, and improving joint mobility and the elasticity of ligament structures.
The most common ligament and muscle injuries (strains and partial to complete ruptures) are successfully treated by applying Tecar therapy protocols. Almost all common sports injuries and conditions accompanied by pain and swelling can be treated with the therapy, depending on the manifestations and the current phase of the injury (inflammation, regeneration or remodeling).
The applicability of the therapy in sport is of exceptional importance. It can be used as an excellent form of warm-up, where by introducing heat locally we artificially retain it in the tissue, so the segment becomes functionally better prepared for physical exertion, while the possibility of injury is reduced to a minimum.
In athermia mode, Tecar therapy rapidly reduces the visibility of edema (swelling) in an athlete’s joint, which, together with the application of the RICE protocol, significantly speeds up the rehabilitation of this injury.
When we have reduced range of motion in the joints caused by shortening of soft tissues, whether in sport, rheumatology or musculoskeletal physiotherapy, the effectiveness after Tecar therapy is incomparably more pronounced and greater in terms of increasing the amplitude of physiological and functional movement in the joint.
Studies have shown that the physiological effect of recovery from a sports injury after just one Tecar therapy is up to three times more effective than classic commercial physical therapy modalities.
How TECAR therapy is performed
Tecar therapy is applied through two electrodes whose source is a radio wave generator. With the help of a special cream as a contact medium, by pressing on the skin the radio waves stimulate the internal body energy and emit a sufficient amount of heat needed to reduce pain and inflammation and improve blood circulation. One electrode is capacitive and the other is resistive.
Tecar therapy can be performed with a gentle massage (which is especially recommended when there is muscle tension), with passive stretching (when it is necessary to increase the mobility of a part of the body) and with voluntary muscle activation through contraction (which helps relax the muscles).
Positive effects are visible after the very first use: reduction of pain (in 85% of patients), increased mobility, tissue regeneration and faster healing.
What makes TECAR therapy special
TECAR therapy with its capacitive and resistive modes provides important stimulation of biological and cellular structures, which acts as:
- Production of deep, uniform and diffuse endogenous heat;
- Reduction in the density of muscle and connective tissue;
- Increased circulation and lymphatic drainage;
- Increased metabolic activity and energy production;
- Increased oxygen supply to the tissues and nutrient absorption;
- Elimination of metabolic waste.
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