CAN TECAR THERAPY REALLY GO DEEP INTO THE TISSUES OF THE LOWER LIMB? CADAVER STUDIES

J. Rodríguez-Sanz¹, C. López-de-Celis², C. Hidalgo-García³, V. González-Rueda², L. Llurda-Almuzara⁴, N. Labata-Lezaun¹, M. Canet-Vintró¹, A. Pérez-Bellmunt¹

¹Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Basic Sciences, Barcelona, Spain, ²Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Physiotherapy, Barcelona, Spain, ³Universidad de Zaragoza, Fisiatría y Enfermería, Zaragoza, Spain, ⁴EUNEIZ, Physiotherapy, Vitoria, Spain

Background: Tecar therapy is a non-invasive electrothermal therapy classified as deep thermotherapy. Currently, it is a therapy widely used in rehabilitation, but it is not known if its effects can reach deep structures.

Purpose: To analyze the change in temperature and current flow in tissues when different tecar protocols are applied to the thigh, knee and calf.

Methods: Three cross-sectional cadaveric studies with 15 cryopreserved cadavers (30 legs). Four 5-minute interventions (resistive high/low-power and capacitive high/low-power) were performed by an experienced physiotherapist. The temperature of the Achilles tendon, musculotendinous junction, intra- and extracapsular part of the knee, quadriceps and biceps femoris was recorded for 5 minutes using invasive temperature gauges placed with ultrasound. The data were analyzed with SPSS software.

Results: Low-power applications showed a low thermal effect (p>0.05) with a significant current flow (p<0.05). The high-power resistive application recorded the highest increase in temperatures and current flow (p<0.05). The high-power capacitive application recorded a greater increase in surface temperature compared to low-power (p>0.05). These results could serve as basic science data to justify accelerating muscle, tendon and capsular recovery by enhancing cell proliferation without increasing temperature in acute injuries and increasing temperature and viscoelasticity in chronic processes.

Conclusions: Low-power protocols generate a mild thermal effect but current flow. High-power protocols generate increased temperature and current flow. The high-power resistive protocol produced the greatest temperature rise in deep structures. The capacitive treatments achieved the greatest increase in surface temperature.

Implications: These basic results are crucial for understanding the effect of tecar therapies (widely used in clinical practice). We know that the current flow is related to cell proliferation and tissue regeneration and the increased thermal effect to viscoelastic tissue enhancement. Knowing the deepening capacity of these effects, we can improve the recovery of certain structural injuries of the lower limb.

Funding acknowledgements: To all the body donors.

Keywords:
Hyperthermia
Physical Therapy
CRet

Topics:
Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Sport & sports injuries
Musculoskeletal

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Committee: Research Committee (CER) of Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Ethics number: CBAS-2019-18 and CBAS 2019-07.