Chiropractic Continuing Education: Evaluating Interferential Current Therapy for Musculoskeletal Pain | CCEDseminars Posted on Oct 19, 2023

Understanding Interferential Current Therapy (IFC) | Chiropractic Continuing Education

image of IFC on our chiropractic continuing education pageCCEDseminars | Your Prime Source For Chiropractic Continuing Education Courses!IFC: An Electrotherapeutic Modality

Interferential Current Therapy (IFC) is a widely employed electrotherapeutic modality in chiropractic and rehabilitation practices. It has gained recognition for its potential to alleviate various types of musculoskeletal pain. However, the clinical efficacy of IFC has been a topic of debate within the healthcare community. Stay current with the literature with our educational blogs and our chiropractic continuing education courses!

Research Methodology

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The systematic review and meta-analysis conducted by Fuentes et al. aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of IFC's effectiveness in managing musculoskeletal pain. The research involved obtaining randomized controlled trials through a meticulous computerized search of bibliographic databases, including CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PEDro, Scopus, and Web of Science, spanning from 1950 to February 8, 2010.

Key Findings

Analysing the Effectiveness of IFC

Out of a total of 2,235 articles found, twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies assessed the use of IFC on various types of musculoskeletal pain, including joint pain, muscle pain, soft tissue shoulder pain, and postoperative pain. Methodological quality assessment revealed variations in study quality, with some considered high, moderate, or poor.

Conclusions

Insights into IFC's Role in Pain Management

The meta-analysis findings shed light on IFC's effectiveness when used as a supplementary intervention. It appears to be more effective in reducing pain compared to control treatments at discharge and more effective than placebo treatments at the 3-month follow-up. However, whether the analgesic effect of IFC surpasses that of concomitant interventions remains uncertain. When used in isolation, IFC did not exhibit significant superiority over placebo or other therapies at discharge or follow-up.

Considerations and Caution

Limitations and Heterogeneity

It's crucial to approach these results with caution due to the limited number of studies that examined IFC in isolation. Moreover, the heterogeneity across studies and methodological limitations introduce complexities in making conclusive statements regarding the analgesic efficacy of IFC.

In the ever-evolving field of clinical practice and chiropractic continuing education, understanding the role of therapies like IFC is essential. Chiropractors seeking to expand their knowledge and offer the best care to their patients can benefit from exploring the potential of Interferential Current Therapy.

Stay informed and explore chiropractic continuing education with CCEDseminars as we bring you the latest research and advancements in the field, helping you enhance your chiropractic practice. Click HERE to get started!


Resources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8779694/

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-13478-6

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