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ALSO KNOWN AS: Electrofulguration, fulguration, medical diathermy, surgical diathermy

Iontophoresis is a medical technique that involves the application of low-level electrical currents to specific areas of the body, which are submerged in water during treatment. It is most widely used to manage hyperhidrosis, a medical condition marked by the excessive production of sweat in localized areas, such as the armpits, the palms of the hands, and the soles of the feet. Iontophoresis is also used to deliver drugs with anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, or antimicrobial properties directly to the skin.

Therapeutic ultrasound is a medical treatment commonly used in physical therapy. It uses specialized tools to apply vibrations to soft tissue groups within the body. These vibrations can increase blood flow to the area, stimulating healing and easing pain.

Diathermy is a form of physical therapy in which deep muscle tissues are heated using high-frequency electrical currents. The word diathermy is itself derived from the Greek words therma, which means “heat,” and dia, which means “through.” As a result, diathermy translates as “heating through.”

Electrotherapy is a medical treatment that uses electricity to stimulate nerves and muscles to relieve symptoms such as pain and paralysis. Ancient civilizations were known to apply electric sea animals to wounds for pain relief purposes. Studies revolving around the use of electric current therapy as a medical treatment date back to the eighteenth century. Since then, doctors have found many uses for electrotherapy, ranging from pain relief to wound healing to mood altering. Studies in electrotherapy also led to the emergence of other electric current–based therapies such as electroconvulsive therapy and deep brain stimulation.