Widespread especially in the physiotherapy field, Tecar provides for the use of a very particular device, based on the physical principle of the condenser and capable of generating heat within the anatomical area in need of care.
Tecar therapy can work in two modes: the capacity mode, suitable for the treatment of soft tissue problems, and the resistive mode, indicated for the treatment of bone, joint, cartilage, etc. disorders.
Depending on the energy delivered by the device, the biological effects of Tecar are mainly three: increase in microcirculation, vasodilation and increase in internal temperature.
Effective in its therapeutic intent, Tecar therapy can cost from 25 to 50 euros per session, a session that generally lasts from 20 to 30 minutes.
All this translates into a tangible shortening of healing times.
Hints of History
Although Tecartherapy has acquired a certain popularity only in recent decades, the principles of operation that underlie it are much older. In fact, the French physician and physicist Jacques Arsène d "Arsonval proposed them for the first time, back in 1890.
After d "Arsonval, several other scholars and inventors ventured into similar projects: among these, the English doctor William Beaumont stands out, who in 1939 also worked on the construction of the first electromedical instrument.
A physics expert, Beaumont coined the term "diathermy" to identify the type of work he was doing. Diatermia is a word of Greek origin, which derives from the "union of" dia "(διά), that is "through", and "thermos" (ϑερμός), that is "heat"; literally it means "heat through", but in this specific case it refers to a form of heat coming from the inside.
A particularly important date in the history of modern Tecar therapy is 1995: in this year, in fact, the word Tecar was born, an acronym for Transfer Energy Capacitive And Resistive.
Initially, modern Tecartherapy was a treatment reserved only for injured athletes, so that they recovered sooner. Today, however, it has taken on decidedly different contours and is useful for many categories of people, even those who do not practice sports. For example, individuals with particular forms of arthritis, the elderly with the classic pathologies of advanced age, subjects with disorders related to the work they carry out, etc. undergo it.
Patented method
The technology underlying Tecar therapy is an international patent. The Tecar brand, Tecarterapia and derivatives are registered trademarks and belong to Unibell International.
and the laser (laser therapy).Infrared, ultrasound and laser, on the other hand, involve the use of equipment that emits heat themselves. This means that the heat is exogenous, that is, it comes from a source external to the body.
The peculiarity of the operation of Tecar therapy is that the instrument in use stimulates the production of heat (which is a form of energy) by the subject being treated.
In other words, it causes the patient's body to collaborate actively, for faster achievement of healing.
Tecar therapy: How it works and uses the instrumentation
The instrument for Tecar therapy exploits the physical principle of the capacitor (or RC circuit or Resistance-Capacitor circuit).
The physical principle of the capacitor includes 4 elements:
- The two so-called capacitor plates, which are two plates facing each other;
- The insulating material, interposed between the two armours;
- The electric generator, which, connected to the two plates, creates a potential difference between them. This potential difference causes one armature to assume a net positive charge (positive armature) and the other armature a net negative charge (negative armature).
While the positive armature attracts the negative electrical charges of the insulating material, the negative armature attracts the positive ones.
By comparing the aforementioned scheme of elements with the Tecar device, it appears that:
- The two plates of the condenser correspond to the mobile plate, with which the therapist massages the painful or inflamed anatomical area, and to the fixed plate (called the return plate), which the therapist applies on the part of the skin opposite to the one to be treated.
- The insulating material coincides with the anatomical area to be treated, including all its tissues and electrolytes. Electrolytes are substances which, in solution, have a certain electric charge. In biological tissues, important electrolytes are, for example, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium etc.
- The electric generator corresponds to the machine to which the two plates are connected and which the therapist adjusts according to needs.
The potential difference, created by the generator at the level of the two plates, moves the electrolytes present inside the tissues. The movement of the electrolytes is what generates the endogenous heat.
How to use Tecar therapy
The Tecar device can work in two modes: capacitive mode and resistive mode.
The capacitive mode is indicated for the treatment of soft tissue problems with low current resistance, such as muscles, skin, connective tissue, blood vessels and lymphatics.
The resistive mode, on the other hand, is ideal for treating tissue damage with high resistance to the passage of current, such as bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, cartilages, etc.
In light of this, it is quite clear that the choice of how to use the Tecar depends exclusively on the type of biological tissue on which it is necessary to act.
- In the capacitive mode, the use of an isolated movable plate is what allows to act specifically on the soft tissues.
- Conversely, in the resistive mode, it is the use of a non-insulated movable plate that allows to act at the level of the tissues with a high resistance to the current.
In essence, therefore, there are three energy levels and a different biological effect is associated with each of them.
On the basis of what has just been stated, regarding the link between the biological effect and the energy level used, it is clear that the choice of the amount of energy transferred by the device depends on the therapeutic goal. For example, if a patient presents a problem that resolves with the effects of vasodilation, then the therapist will have to set the Tecar tool at an intermediate energy level.
Biological Effects: in-depth analysis
L"increase in microcirculation it consists in the "increased blood circulation" inside the smaller caliber vessels, such as capillaries, venules, arterioles, etc.
This has at least two important consequences:
- An increase in energy transformations, which results in a greater production of ATP by the affected cells.
- An increase in oxygen consumption in the most superficial layers of tissues.
The increase in microcirculation is indicated to reduce pain and / or inflammation in the acute phase, to treat muscle injuries in the acute phase and to decrease edema.
There vasodilation it consists of an increase in the caliber of blood vessels, both arterial and venous.
The consequences associated with vasodilation include:
- The increase in the volume of blood flowing inside the vessels.
- A further increase in the production of ATP by the affected cells.
- An increase in oxygen consumption by the affected tissues.
- An improvement in lymphatic circulation.
- An increase in natural tissue repair processes (where, of course, there are damaged tissues).
- A perceptible increase in internal temperature. Typically, the patient feels this increase just below the area where the therapist applied the movable plate.
Vasodilation is indicated to resolve muscle contractures and blood circulation problems of a certain severity, to improve lymphatic drainage and muscle trophism, etc.
L"internal temperature increase consists in the consistent production of endogenous heat by the anatomical area treated.
The "internal temperature increase is followed by:
- A "further vasodilation and a further increase in blood flow.
- A "further improvement of lymphatic circulation and drainage.
- A further increase in energy transformations, which culminate in an increased production of ATP.
- A further increase in cellular repair processes.
- A distinct sensation of warmth in the treated area.
The increase in temperature is indicated to resolve chronic inflammation, tissue fibrosis, joint stiffness, lymphedema states, etc.
The main effects of endogenous heat
- Production of endogenous heat even in depth;
- Lowering of viscosity of muscle and connective tissue;
- Increased blood circulation;
- Stimulation of lymphatic drainage;
- Increased metabolic activity;
- Increased tissue oxygenation;
- Greater intake of nutritional substances;
- Rapid elimination of waste and catabolites;
- Acceleration of regenerative processes;
- Endorphin release and pain reduction.
The anatomical areas of the human body that best lend themselves to treatment with Tecar are knee, shoulder, hip, ankle, foot, hand, wrist and spine.
Most common uses of Tecartherapy
- Muscle pathologies:
- Contractures;
- Stretches or tears;
- Bruises;
- Edema.
- Painful pathologies of the spine:
- Lumbago;
- Back pain
- Cervical pain.
- Shoulder disorders:
- Shoulder tendonitis and tenosynovitis;
- Insertional tendinopathies;
- Adhesive capsulitis.
- Elbow Disorders:
- Epicondylitis;
- Epithrocleitis.
- Wrist and hand disorders:
- Tendinitis and tenosynovitis of the hand;
- Wrist tendonitis and tenosynovitis;
- Rhizoarthrosis.
- Hip Disorders:
- Coxarthrosis;
- Bursitis;
- Pubalgia.
- Knee disorders:
- Patellar chondropathy;
- Gonarthrosis;
- Outcomes of traumatic injuries of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments;
- Sprains.
- Ankle and foot disorders:
- Outcomes of fractures;
- Sprains;
- Plantar fasciitis;
- Yarrow tendonitis.
- Post-surgical rehabilitation.
When they occur, these side effects of Tecartherapy mostly depend on improper use of the instrumentation or on the "area of interest".
Overall, however, tecar therapy is to be considered a highly safe method of treatment.
.The only people to whom doctors recommend precaution (and perhaps the consultation of a specialist) are people with pacemakers, individuals who are insensitive to high temperatures and pregnant women.
