Historical Electrotherapy Equipment on Display

Avid historians at McGill University, Canada have curated a display of intriguing physiotherapy equipment dating back to the Gaiffe Nerve Stimulator, c1860.  Sarah Marshall PT Fellow, Faculty Lecturer, School of Physical & Occupational Therapy, and Rick Fraser, MDCM, Professor, Department of Pathology, Director of the Maude Abbott Medical Museum, and pathologist at the McGill University Health Centre together with two recent Physical Therapy graduates have set up the display case, on the 3rd floor of the McIntyre Medical Building.

The case contents were researched and collected by then-master’s students, Daniel Lee and Nadia Bichri, who worked on the project while finishing their studies in the summer of 2023.  The display case is ready for all to view from now until next summer. Next time you pass by the “McMed” take a moment to look at the evolution of physiotherapy modalities and approaches over time.  The following are texts created to describe the areas of electrotherapy, muscle stimulation and treatment of pain.

Electrotherapy

Electricity has long been associated with disease and its treatment. For example, in ancient Egypt it was believed that touching an electric eel could numb toothache or even labor pain! Work by scientists such as Luigi Galvani, who discovered in 1780 that the muscles of dead frogs’ legs twitched when stimulated by an electrical spark, provided the scientific basis for the modern use of electrical currents in devices such as cardiac pacemakers. A variety of electrical machines have been employed in physiotherapy for purposes such as muscle stimulation and relief of pain.

Muscle stimulation

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) is used for several purposes, including muscle strengthening (“re-education”) following disuse atrophy and improving the range of motion around a joint. An external electrical source provides a current that stimulates muscle contraction. Depending on the underlying abnormality, short or long contractions are interspersed with rests of variable duration programmed by the therapist.

Pain

Transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS) is based on the Gate Control Theory developed in the 1960s by McGill researchers Ronald Melzack and Patrick Wall. They proposed that the sensation of pain is mediated by thin nerve fibers and can be lessened by touch or pressure sensations transmitted by thick nerve fibers. By providing an electrical stimulus via the skin similar to that of the thick fibers, TENS is hypothesized to “close the gate” on an existing pain sensation, resulting in its decrease or disappearance.

Posted by Sarah C. Marshall

Sarah C. Marshall is a Faculty Lecturer at the School of Physical & Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Sarah is a former President of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and is a founding member of the International Physiotherapy History Association. She has been a physiotherapist for over three decades, and enjoys lecturing, studying and debating on topics such as health promotion, seniors’ health, and the value of healthy lifestyles. Sarah’s interest in history is linked to her middle name: Catherine Marshall was Sarah’s great-aunt, and a suffragist in the UK in the early years of the 20th century.

  1. floodle puppies for sale

    […]usually posts some extremely fascinating stuff like this. If you池e new to this site[…]

    Reply

  2. french bulldog texas

    […]very handful of internet sites that transpire to be detailed beneath, from our point of view are undoubtedly properly really worth checking out[…]

    Reply

  3. in vitro fertilization mexico

    […]the time to read or take a look at the subject material or web pages we have linked to below the[…]

    Reply

  4. massachusetts boston terriers

    […]here are some hyperlinks to web pages that we link to simply because we consider they’re worth visiting[…]

    Reply

  5. free sex shows

    […]Every as soon as inside a although we pick blogs that we read. Listed beneath would be the most current websites that we opt for […]

    Reply

  6. amateur webcams

    […]one of our visitors not too long ago encouraged the following website[…]

    Reply

  7. cheap cam sex

    […]very few websites that take place to be detailed below, from our point of view are undoubtedly properly worth checking out[…]

    Reply

  8. free nude chat

    […]Every when in a although we opt for blogs that we read. Listed beneath are the most current web pages that we select […]

    Reply

  9. cheap sex webcams

    […]usually posts some very fascinating stuff like this. If you池e new to this site[…]

    Reply

  10. free webcam sex

    […]always a major fan of linking to bloggers that I really like but really don’t get a great deal of link like from[…]

    Reply

  11. free sex webcams

    […]that is the finish of this report. Right here you値l discover some websites that we feel you値l value, just click the hyperlinks over[…]

    Reply

  12. micro frenchie

    […]Sites of interest we’ve a link to[…]

    Reply

  13. cheap french bulldog puppies under $500

    […]below you値l discover the link to some web-sites that we consider you need to visit[…]

    Reply

  14. cost ketorolac no prescription

    cost ketorolac no prescription

    Reply

  15. artane water

    artane water

    Reply

  16. para que es piroxicam bioximil

    para que es piroxicam bioximil

    Reply

  17. rizatriptan benzoate sandoz

    rizatriptan benzoate sandoz

    Reply

  18. mobic cox inhibitor

    mobic cox inhibitor

    Reply

  19. lioresal 10 mg comprimidos

    lioresal 10 mg comprimidos

    Reply

  20. is maxalt a benzo

    is maxalt a benzo

    Reply

  21. imdur diastolic dysfunction

    imdur diastolic dysfunction

    Reply

  22. elavil metabolites

    elavil metabolites

    Reply

  23. imitrex and adhd

    imitrex and adhd

    Reply

  24. sulfasalazine collagenous colitis

    sulfasalazine collagenous colitis

    Reply

  25. tramadol celebrex together

    tramadol celebrex together

    Reply

  26. levofloxacin wechselwirkung ibuprofen

    levofloxacin wechselwirkung ibuprofen

    Reply

  27. can you overdose on children’s motrin

    can you overdose on children’s motrin

    Reply

  28. etodolac and oxycontin

    etodolac and oxycontin

    Reply

  29. carbamazepine cr side effects

    carbamazepine cr side effects

    Reply

  30. cheap online pharmacy hydrocodone

    cheap online pharmacy hydrocodone

    Reply

  31. vardenafil information

    vardenafil information

    Reply

  32. buy bayer levitra online

    buy bayer levitra online

    Reply

  33. lapela tadalafil 20 mg

    lapela tadalafil 20 mg

    Reply

  34. cialis 5mg price

    cialis 5mg price

    Reply

  35. sildenafil price

    sildenafil price

    Reply

  36. is tamsulosin like viagra

    is tamsulosin like viagra

    Reply

  37. order tadalafil

    order tadalafil

    Reply

  38. acarbose reviews

    acarbose reviews

    Reply

  39. remeron headache

    remeron headache

    Reply

  40. actos publicos.gov.ar

    actos publicos.gov.ar

    Reply

  41. abilify dosages for depression

    abilify dosages for depression

    Reply

  42. repaglinide and pregnancy

    repaglinide and pregnancy

    Reply

  43. can you drink alcohol while taking augmentin

    can you drink alcohol while taking augmentin

    Reply

  44. celexa weight gain

    celexa weight gain

    Reply

  45. baclofen lioresal

    baclofen lioresal

    Reply

  46. amitriptyline dosage for sleep reviews

    amitriptyline dosage for sleep reviews

    Reply

  47. how long does aspirin stay in your system

    how long does aspirin stay in your system

    Reply

  48. allopurinol dosing for gout

    allopurinol dosing for gout

    Reply

  49. reddit contrave weight loss

    reddit contrave weight loss

    Reply

  50. cozaar vs benicar

    cozaar vs benicar

    Reply

  51. what is the difference between citalopram and escitaloprám

    what is the difference between citalopram and escitaloprám

    Reply

  52. niacin or ezetimibe

    niacin or ezetimibe

    Reply

  53. effexor weight loss

    effexor weight loss

    Reply

  54. neurontin 400 mg overdose

    neurontin 400 mg overdose

    Reply

  55. cephalexin killed my dog

    cephalexin killed my dog

    Reply

  56. citron pharma duloxetine

    citron pharma duloxetine

    Reply

  57. m zam azithromycin tablet uses

    m zam azithromycin tablet uses

    Reply

  58. what type of drug is lexapro

    what type of drug is lexapro

    Reply

  59. Good day, thank you for this article! Great to see other people passionate about electrotherapy, there is so much untapped healing potential in electrotherapy. I hope you have a Smart Coil and a Strong Box in your display;)

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Translate »