After a bleeding episode the most important aspect of initial treatment is to stop the bleeding by administration of clotting factor concentrate and to rest and support the injured limb. Factor replacement will stop the bleeding and, if this is given early enough, then minimal blood will leak into the joint or muscle. However, if the bleed is severe or is not treated quickly enough, then blood will be released into the joint or muscle. The longer the blood remains in the joint, the greater the risk of damage, and the joint becoming inflamed. The priority then is the relief of pain and the resolution or removal of the bleed from the area. After the bleeding has stopped, electrotherapy can be used as part of the physiotherapy treatment plan to help remove this blood as quickly as possible. This then allows normal muscle and joint function to return and will minimize the potential damage to the joint. Various modalities of electrotherapy can be used depending on the area, depth, type of injury and type of tissue to be treated.

What does electrotherapy do?

There is electrical activity at work in our bodies all the time (endogenous electrical activity). This can be used as an indicator of a particular process, for example, the electrical activity in a muscle can be studied using electromyography (EMG) and electrocardiograph (ECG) shows the function of the heart. The endogenous electrical activity acts as a control mechanism for growth and healing. Electrotherapy adds to the endogenous electrical activity in the damaged tissues, thereby stimulating or improving the growth and healing processes. Therapeutic Ultrasound, Pulsed short-wave diathermy, Interferential therapy, Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, Electrical stimulation of muscle are various other forms of electrotherapy that are used adjunct to physiotherapy to achieve better results.