Recovering from injuries and surgeries or managing chronic pain often requires innovative solutions that go beyond traditional therapies that not all patients can use or respond well to. For those seeking a non-invasive, effective approach for faster and more comprehensive rehabilitation, TECAR therapy is a cutting-edge treatment modality.
It has gained significant recognition for its ability to reduce recovery times, relieve pain, and improve overall mobility.
We will explore this therapy, how it works, common conditions and injuries it is used for, contraindications for its use, and how it speeds recovery times.
TECAR stands for the Spanish acronym Tranferencia Electica Capacitiva Resistiva. In English, it means Capacitive Resistive Electric Transference. TECAR is a deep tissue thermotherapy modality that uses high frequencies to increase local body tissue temperatures. It is a non-invasive, nonablative method that stimulates tissue repair at the cellular level and reduces inflammation.
TECAR therapy is a bio-accelerator modality that uses high-frequency currents, usually between 300 KHZ and 1MHZ. It uses a handheld applicator to apply the currents to the body. Those currents accelerate intra and extracellular ion exchange to promote the healing of the tissues at the cellular level.
Studies have shown that it can improve local blood flow, decrease muscle fatigue, and increase muscle flexibility due to its ability to increase body tissue temperature and promote healing. It also improves lymphatic drainage by up to six times, and when used on superficial tissues, it promotes collagen and elastin production.
It also simultaneously disrupts nerve impulses to provide an instant analgesic effect. The combined effect provides short-term pain relief, long-term healing, and long-term pain relief. Treatment results have been very positive, showing accelerated healing after injuries and surgery up to twice as fast as not using it.
It can be used in two modes of energy transfer to promote healing in bones and soft tissues.
Initially, treatments begin at lower intensities and shorter durations (5-10 minutes) 2-3 times a week. Then, the dosage is gradually increased based on treatment goals and patient tolerance, and the duration of the treatment is doubled while the treatment frequency is reduced to 1-2 times per week. A higher intensity might be used for longer durations over several weeks when treating more chronic conditions.
TECAR is frequently used in treating musculoskeletal and pain disorders and sports rehabilitation. Its ability to instantly relieve pain and stimulate cellular healing makes it useful in multiple applications, including injuries and chronic conditions.
Its non-invasive approach also means it is well-tolerated by almost any patient, opening up the treatment options for patients who cannot tolerate or do not respond well to traditional therapies.
For instance, it can help treat joint pain, tendinitis, acute or chronic injuries and inflammatory conditions, muscle spasms, low back pain, synovitis, osteoarthritis, and tendinopathy. It can also speed recovery times after surgery. Other conditions in which it has been more recently used are veterinarian rehabilitation, physio-aesthetics, neurological conditions, and pelvic health.
TECAR can also be used alongside other bodywork therapies like functional massage and Tension Release Therapy to improve mobility, speed recovery, and promote healing.
For instance, it has been used in combination with functional massage to improve mobility in chronic stroke survivors and can assist in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.
Thanks to superior safety and few side effects, the list of contraindications for this therapy is short. Some general contraindications include pregnancy, active infections, open wounds, and patients with pacemakers or insulin pumps.
Specific contraindications involve avoiding use directly over metal implants, on cancer, blood clots, growth cartilage, or near the heart. There are no contraindications for use on patients with prosthetics.
TECAR can accelerate recovery times from injuries and surgeries because of its effect at the cellular level. It promotes the acceleration of intra and extracellular ion exchanges. This facilitates cellular waste removal and increases cellular nutrient intake.
So, while it immediately relieves pain from injuries, conditions, and surgeries, it also provides a long-lasting healing effect at the cellular level, promotes local blood flow, and enhances cellular metabolism. It has been proven to speed up the rehabilitation time from injuries and surgeries two times faster than without.
TECAR therapy is often used 2-3 days per week, especially in the initial phase of treatment. Afterward, it is typically reduced to 1-2 times per week until the patient improves. Treatments can safely continue for several weeks at a time.
TECAR therapy is revolutionizing rehabilitation by combining immediate pain relief with long-term healing benefits. Its versatility and non-invasive nature make it an ideal solution for a wide range of conditions, from musculoskeletal injuries to chronic pain conditions. By accelerating recovery at the cellular level, this treatment modality helps patients ease pain, regain mobility, and improve their quality of life much faster than without.
If you're ready to elevate your practice with TECAR technology, Maven Imaging can help you explore the benefits of this innovative equipment for your patients.