The world of muscle injuries and different therapies is immense. More than once you will have heard that "what a beating the physiotherapist gave me" or "if it hurts, you are on the right track". Fortunately, medicine and physiotherapy are very advanced and less painful and more effective therapies are being discovered. Below we will discover what tecartherapy consists of and what its benefits are.
What is tecartherapy?
This technique uses the benefits of diathermy effect (heating localized areas of the body using an electric or magnetic field) in the body. As also happens with muscular electrostimulation, tecartherapy uses electrical currents to prevent or cure injuries; although its main objective is to raise the temperature in deep areas to heal them.
Part of the treatment is carried out with special equipment, which uses this technology, to reactivate the metabolism and speed up natural recovery. Next, manual work by a physiotherapist will also be required. It is essential that you have a qualified professional, since it will be the only thing that can improve your injury.
Tecartherapy comes from the acronym teacar, which stands for "capacitive and resistive electrical transfer." Logically, for this therapy two electrodes are used: one resistive and one capacitive. The resistive part is concentrated in tissues with greater resistance (bones, joints or tendons), while the capacitive system is due to the subcutaneous areas that are under the electrode.
Its use has become known among athletes and people who need rehabilitation. In 20 years, this type of therapy has evolved significantly and provides better performance in injuries. That is, patients recover better and are able to last longer in training routines. Rafa Nadal, for example, is one of the athletes who uses tecartherapy.
What benefits does it provide?
Its benefits are related to the physiological activation that is generated by raising the temperature in deep areas of the body. Undoubtedly, the greatest positive effect that we can obtain is the increase in cellular metabolism. This makes cells process waste faster and be more efficient in their function.
Likewise, blood circulation is also increased, favors oxygenation and eliminates the waste created by the cells. In addition, it reduces muscle inflammation, tension and improves joint lubrication. If all this seems common to you in any type of therapy, below we will discuss the best advantages of one that uses electric current on the skin.
dilator effect
Vasodilation through heat helps reduce contractures. It also improves blood circulation and general muscle tone. Basically, it is the widening of the blood vessels. It occurs when the muscles in the walls of large arteries or veins relax, allowing the blood vessels to widen. This leads to an increase in blood flow through the vessels, and a decrease in blood pressure.
On the other hand, by increasing internal temperature (hyperthermia), tecartherapy acts on muscle and joint stiffness, inflammation, lymphedema and many other injuries. That is why this method is used in rehabilitation treatments of the musculoskeletal system, as well as osteoarticular or to relieve inflammation.
Faster recovery
It is one of the best therapies for the body to heal itself naturally. This increase in metabolism causes internal tissues to activate anti-inflammatory repair processes.
However, this therapy is typical of athletes due to the type of injuries to which it is applied. That is why it is common to see sports medicine centers that practice tecartherapy. Even so, anyone can suffer an injury in their daily lives, at work or while exercising. Health experts assure that thanks to it, a quick recovery from injuries is achieved and pain is eliminated from the beginning.
Improve mobility
When heat is applied, circulation and cellular metabolism are increased. This causes a decrease in muscle tension and inflammation, resulting in better mobility and avoiding the feeling of fatigue. When our body once again has good joint lubrication, we recover quality of life. Remember that it is essential to rest and recover the muscles before continuing to force yourself in training.
It should also be noted that tecartherapy sessions can be applied to people who lead a sedentary lifestyle. Spending many hours sitting or not exercising also causes injuries and muscle damage.
Are there contraindications to tecartherapy?
The benefits of this therapy are quite evident, but there are certain factors that we must take into account. Not everyone can submit to it. For example, women pregnant women should avoid performing treatments with electric currents, in addition to people suffering from cancer, heart disease or inflammatory diseases.
Experts believe that people who have a pacemaker or cardiac defibrillator you should also refrain from this therapy. This is because these types of devices can interfere with them and modify normal operation. Some even recommend staying away from tecartherapy in case a serious epileptic seizure could occur when it is used on certain areas of the body.
Applying some therapy with electrical current could lead to thrombosis or other venous disease if the person is prone to it. It is important that a physiotherapist assess your case and decide if he wants to apply this method to your injury. It always has expert and qualified professionals. If the specialist doctor determines or there are suspicions of the disease, because the blood count indicates that there is a high risk of suffering any type of thrombosis, the use of electrostimulation is absolutely contraindicated.
As to Cancer, the effects of this muscle method have not been determined in people with this disease. In addition, there is a wide variety of typologies. However, the risk lies in the fact that by increasing blood circulation due to vasodilation, there is a greater chance of having metastases. Always ask a doctor before undergoing treatment, even if it is muscular or to rehabilitate an injury.