Does interferential electrotherapy work?
Interferential electrical stimulation (often shortened to e-stim) is by no means the domain of only the chiropractor. It’s a very common tool in physical therapy as well, using electrical pulses of varying strengths/frequencies to provide pain management, reduction of swelling and stimulation of muscle and soft tissue healing. This site has a good explanation of the many kinds of electrical stimulation that are commonly (and less commonly) used for all these purposes. Fascinating stuff. So no, it’s not voodoo. I used it all the time on patients when I worked at a PT clinic (as an aide, not a therapist) and the reactions were always either very positive or at worst neutral, with careful management of the settings for the given injury. Chiropractors, on the other hand — I think a lot of the principals behind the work they do (joint alignment, etc) are very valid and important, but I
