Electrotherapy Pioneers

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An exciting movement has taken place in the use of electricity to speed recovery from injuries and relieve pain by delivering very small amounts of electrical energy that facilitates the movement of ions in human soft tissue. The human body is basically made up of 67% salt water in which ions are transferred via electrochemical processes. When injury or disease occurs, this normal process is disrupted. Low energy levels introduced effectively to the human body may facilitate the natural healing process. The overall success of electrotherapy in the past 40 years, which includes cardiac pacing, muscle reeducation, bone growth stimulation and pain blocking, has created acceptance of this type of therapy. 

Taking advantage of recent advancements in electrotherapy, many pioneered by Prizm Medical Inc., one can dramatically enhance clinical results as described in the publication listed below. Unlike milli-amperage TENS products, the DC micro-amperage current delivered by the Micro-Z™ and the Micro-Z Mini™ through the Intelligent Textiles for Medicine® offers lower levels of energy, at or below the sensory level. Our stimulators offer two treatment options that are preprogrammed. These treatments can both be administered day and/or night. Most patients prefer this micro-current type of stimulation when using the nighttime therapy because the low level of energy is not felt. 

• Armstrong, D.G. and Lavery, L.A., Is Electrical Stimulation Effective in Reducing Neuropathic Pain in Patients with Diabetes? The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, 36(4): 260-263, 1997.
• Peters, E.J.G., Armstrong, D.G., Wunderlich, R.P., Bosma, J., Stacpoole-Shea, S., and Lavery, LA, The Benefit of Electrical Stimulation to Enhance Perfusion in Persons with Diabetes Mellitus, The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery.
• Peters, E.J.G., Lavery, L.A., Armstrong, D.G., Fleischli, J.G., Electric Stimulation as an Adjunct to Heal Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A randomized Clinical Trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil vol 82, June 2001