Electrotherapy

Electrotherapy Treatments

This was a form of physiotherapy in which nerves and muscles were stimulated using various types of electrical current. Electrodes were placed next to the skin or electricity was passed through the body in a bath of spa water. These treatments helped to develop wasted muscles or to stimulate blood supply.

Electrical current produced deep heat within body tissues to improve circulation and to relieve pain.

Conditions such as arthritis, haematoma, eczema, frostbite, boils, carbuncles, or bronchitis, could all benefit from shortwave treatment.

During treatment a patient would lie on a treatment couch. The treatment machine stood at the side of the bed. The electrodes looked like large flat lightbulbs with plastic covers and were stored in a white wall-mounted unit above the bed. Used in pairs and attached to the machine by long hinged arms, the pads could reach any part of the body. Treatment lasted up to thirty minutes. Instead of lamps, rubber pads could be used or 'pancake coils' that could be wrapped around the affected area Fabric spacers were put between the skin and pad or electrodes to protect the skin.

Short wave treatment to a patient’s shoulders (M4480.1998.37)

Megatherm Short Wave Therapy Machine. Different sized treatment electrodes were stored in the white cabinet above until needed. The movable arms on the machine could reach any part of the patient’s body. (machine M4626.2004, photo M4448.33)

George Hall receiving shortwave therapy to his shoulder, (M4481.1998.27)

Microwave Diathermy Electrical current aimed at the skin produced heat within the body with a 'microwave' effect.

Microwave therapy was based on the same principles as shortwave diathermy, The applicators for microwave therapy looked more like modern shaving lights. Behind the cover were several coiled wires or 'antennae', which produced the microwaves to be aimed at the skin from about 10-20 cm away. The microwaves passed a few centimetres into the body before being completely absorbed, releasing heat into the damaged muscle. Changing the distance from the body, or using different sized antennae changed the size of the area that could be treated.

Microwave Therapy Machine. Attached to the arm is a treatment lamp containing the antennae that produced the microwaves. A variety of different shaped attachments could be used (M4640.2004)

Low Frequency Currents

Electrical currents passed through saline water and parts of the body, producing a 'twitching' of the nerves and muscle which stimulated weak muscles and wasted limbs.

Low frequency current treatment was also known as progressive, or selective treatment. A low frequency electrical current was passed through the body, often through a saline water bath, usually to stimulate weak muscles, or tone wasted limbs. Different types of current produced different effects. Using splints prevented too much movement of the arm or leg and protected weak muscles from overstretching. Three different types of current were used:

A faradic current pulsed very quickly which did not allow the muscle to relax. For the patient there was little pain or feeling as the current passed through.

A galvanic current caused twitching of the muscles, as the flow of the current was switched on and off.

A sinusoidal current was constantly varied in order for the current to contract and relax the muscles. The electric current was applied by metal electrodes either bandaged to a small area of skin or in a bath of saline water for a whole limb.

Scratches or sores had to be covered with some insulating material, to prevent burns. The current was gradually increased. After 20-30 minutes at maximum the current was gradually reduced to zero and switched off. The skin was then dried and dusted with non-irritating powder such as talc.

Electrodes were usually made out of zinc, tin, lead or copper. They could be purchased ready made, or custom built to meet individual requirements on site. During treatment a pad was needed between the electrode and the skin, held in place by a bandage. This provided even contact between the skin and the source of the supply and kept acids and alkalis formed at the electrodes away from the skin.

Girl being given low frequency current treatment with electrodes to her leg c. 1950s (M3535.1990.18)

Progressive treatment for Low Frequency Current. Different electrical currents could be created by pressing different combinations of buttons. (M4274.1994.4)

Schnee Four Cell Bath

A seated patient could put their arms and legs into separate baths without the need for undressing and avoiding the danger of mixing water and electricity in a complete immersion bath.

The Schnee Four Cell Bath was used for treating general rheumatic conditions and painful joints. A patient would be seated with an individual bath for each limb. Each bath had its own current, which could be varied independently.  In this treatment patients could bear a much stronger current than with electrodes on small areas, because of the large skin area exposed to the current in each bath. There was no danger of electric shock as in a full bath as the porcelain tubs were not connected to water pipes and were well insulated from earthing. The quantity of water required was not great and did no depend on a nearby water supply. It also allowed the person to be treated without undressing, speeding up treatment times and proving much more comfortable and convenient than a full body bath.

A patient being treated in the Schnee Four Cell Bath in 1953 (M3535.1990.63. Copyright Illustrated Magazine)

Ionisation

Drugs dissolved in water were forced through the skin by electricity to directly reach parts of the body.

Ionisation was a treatment involving low frequency currents to pass accurate doses of drugs through the skin by the process of ionisation. The depth to which any ion can penetrate depended on the time the current flowed, and the thickness of the body part being treated. The current could carry the drug ions to every part of the limb or muscle that needed treating. As a general rule ions could not be carried very deeply into the body, being either carried away by the bloodstream, or the treatment had to be stopped due to danger of burns to the skin.

Copper and zinc ions were used for their germicidal and antiseptic properties. Lithium was used for gouty conditions and iodine and chlorine softened scars or relieved stiff and painful joints. It was also possible to ionise expensive drugs such as morphine or cocaine, although it is not known whether these were used at the Pump Rooms.

Interferential Treatment

Two currents passed through the body 'interfered' at a crossing point to treat sports injuries and muscle pain.

The name of the treatment comes from the way that it works, by two currents 'interfering' with each other. Two medium frequency stimulating currents are fed through skin electrodes at the opposite corners of a square so thet they interfere where they cross at the centre of the square. This can treat muscle disorders, or relieve pain. One of the photos in the collection shows a physiotherapist treating a rugby injury. Like low frequency currents metal electrodes were connected to the treatment machine by wires and strapped to the skin.

In 1983 the Friends of the Pump Room donated a £1400 interferential machine to the Pump Rooms physiotherapy treatment. This was one of the first interferential machines in the area.

A physiotherapist treating her son for a rugby injury with interferential treatment. (M4481.1998.26)

History - later medical treatments
Hydrotherapy and Bath Treatments
Therapool Treatments and Polio
Heat and Light Treatments
Electrotherapy
Physiotherapy Treatments