[Electrotherapy or electrommythology? Possibilities and limitations of electrotherapy].

Abstract

All of the established methods of electrotherapy are based on-at least-one of the following three scientifically and clinically confirmed working principles: electro-analgesia, muscle stimulation and tissue heating. The well defined indications for the different electrotherapeutical currents are inferred from these three principles, which are briefly described-together with their principal indications-in this contribution. At present some "complementary" forms of electrotherapy are being increasingly advocated. They are not clinically confirmed and, moreover, they lack a rationally founded working principle. These methods, so called "electromythology", are based on hypothetical and often clearly erroneous assumptions. Their therapeutic objective seems to be an unspecific stimulation of the cell metabolism, and their diagnostic goal is equally unspecific and universal. Frequently, these applications surmise an universal healing power inherent in the electric current as such. Because "electromythology" currently invades veterinary medicine, this contribution should help the reader to distinguish between realistic and excessive expectations.