Barbara Moser
DemoPhysiotherapie Moser
- 4.8(5)
- Basel
- Languages: de · en · tr
PhysiotherapyFascia therapyElectrotherapy
Basic insurance (KVG)
- Price
- CHF 60–140
- Next appointment
- Available Thu, 15 Oct
Electrotherapy
Electrotherapy uses a weak electrical current delivered through electrodes on the skin. Depending on the technique, it is meant to relieve pain (for example TENS), activate weakened muscles (electrical stimulation) or stimulate blood flow. It is usually used as part of physiotherapy or medical massage, rarely on its own.
- therapists
- 5
- session length
- 15–30 min
Therascout does not diagnose. Have new, severe or persistent complaints checked by a doctor first. In an emergency: 144
Origin and approach
Electricity has been used in medicine since the 19th century; today’s devices use precisely adjustable forms of current. With TENS, electrical stimuli on the skin are meant to dampen the transmission of pain signals; with electrical stimulation, muscles contract that you cannot yet tighten well enough yourself after surgery or an injury. Research results are mixed: electrotherapy is most useful as an add-on to active exercise.
What a session is like
Length: 15–30 min- First, the therapist assesses your complaints and asks about pacemakers, implants or pregnancy.
- Electrodes are stuck onto the skin and the device is set up; you feel tingling or your muscles tightening, but no pain.
- The application usually lasts 10 to 30 minutes and is often combined with heat, massage or exercises.
- Sometimes you are given a small TENS device with instructions for use at home.
Electrotherapy: what is it used for?
- Back pain and other chronic pain, usually alongside exercise therapy.
- Rebuilding muscle after surgery, for example the thigh muscle after knee surgery.
- Joint pain, for example with osteoarthritis.
- Period pain, using a TENS device.
For all of these uses the evidence is limited or mixed.
How well is the effect supported?
Complaints for which this method is commonly used, sorted by the state of research. The rating shows how well the effect is supported, not whether it will help you.
What do the dots mean?How to read the rating
- Established
- recommended in guidelines, well studied
- Partly supported
- effect shown in studies, with limitations
- Limited evidence
- few or weak studies
- Hardly studied
- used, but hardly or not studied
The rating covers the research, not the therapist.
- Limited evidence
Joint pain
It is unclear whether electrical stimulation (TENS) helps knee osteoarthritis. The US guideline advises against it.
Therapists: Electrotherapy
Costs and health insurance
- Basic insurance
- Basic insurance if prescribed by a doctor (as physiotherapy), otherwise supplementary insurance.
- Supplementary insurance
- may cover additional services, depending on your policy.
- Your insurer
- Each profile shows which insurers recognise the therapist.
- Practice prices
- See prices in each practice profile.
Good to know
- Electrotherapy is not used with a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator, on the abdomen and pelvis during pregnancy, or on broken skin.
- A doctor’s prescription for physiotherapy usually covers 9 sessions; electrotherapy is then often part of it.
- Mild skin irritation under the electrodes is possible; for most complaints, active exercise remains more important.
Training and recognition in Switzerland
Physiotherapists and medical massage therapists with a federal certificate learn electrotherapy during their training. As part of physiotherapy prescribed by a doctor, basic insurance covers it; with medical massage therapists, supplementary insurance contributes depending on the policy, usually only with EMR or ASCA registration.