What is Interferential Therapy (IFT)?
IFT is a system of getting a low frequency current into the body. Two medium frequency currents are applied to the skin in such a way that they “interfere” with each other to produce a “beat” frequency. This beat frequency is the difference between the medium frequency currents. The body recognises it as the required low frequency current. The reason for using medium frequencies in this way is that the lower the frequency the higher the resistance of the skin to the current, i.e. the lower the frequency the more the sensation you feel. Low frequencies can actually be painful. The importance of using low frequencies is that it has been shown that the body itself produces low frequency currents between 1 and 256 Hz. Different systems in the body produce different frequencies and these can be picked up by ECGs, EMGs and EEGs. By using specific frequencies and frequency ranges, then different systems can be stimulated and activated. In short, IFT stimulates the body to heal itself. One of
