TENS vs IFC: Difference and Comparison

TENS and IFC are updated technologies used for treating patients suffering from chronic diseases. This kind of technology is also called electrotherapy. Both these work by sending stimulation into the person’s body through mild currents to the electrodes into our body.

Key Takeaways

1. TENS uses low-voltage electrical current to alleviate muscle pain, whereas IFC utilizes high-frequency electrical current to relieve muscle pain.
2. TENS is used for acute and chronic pain management, while IFC is commonly used in sports medicine, orthopaedics, and physical therapy.
3. TENS pads are placed directly on the skin, while IFC requires special electrodes to penetrate the skin and reach deeper muscle tissues.

TENS vs IFC

TENS helps in stimulating the current that is generated, which initially flows through the electrodes of the body to replace certain parts of a body. On the other hand, the IFC helps convert the stimulation received at the point joining near the electric end into electrodes.

TENS is the short form of Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. This device is a simple device that runs on a battery which helps treat a patient’s pain.

This device emits low frequencies of electrical current to the body, which helps to push to the nerve and reduce pain. This method helps reduce pain and improves blood circulation in a person’s body.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	TENS	IFC
Full form	The complete form of TENS is Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.	The complete form of IFC is Interferential current.
Meaning	TENS helps stimulate the generated current, which initially flows through the electrodes of the body.	The IFC helps convert the stimulation received at the point joining near the electric point into electrodes.
Function it performs	The TENS helps in the stimulation of producing endorphins.	The IFC helps in the stimulation of blood circulation in the body.
Radiations transmitted	The TENS ship low frequencies ranging up to 125 HZ.	The IFC transmits a high frequency of up to 4000 HZ.
Focus	TENS focuses on only reducing pain in a person’s body.	IFC focus on the healing process of restoring tissues in a person’s body.

What are TENS?

TENS is the short form of (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation). This device is a simple device that runs on a battery which helps treat a patient’s pain.

This treatment is performed only after all other painkillers and medicines are tried on and have no effect on treating pain in a person’s body. This device can be controlled alone by the person using it without help from a doctor at home.

This device is performed on a person’s body to treat pain related to joints, pain during labour, pain after the surgery, and pain in a person’s back or neck.

What is IFC?

IFC is the short form of Interferential Current. This device is used to treat patients having psychopathic disorders. This device emits low frequencies of electrical current to the body, which helps to push to the nerve and reduce pain. This method helps reduce pain and improves blood circulation in a person’s body.

The currents emitted from this device are left at the place where the person feels the pain in the body. As soon as this is practised, stimulation occurs between a person’s nerves and his tissues.

Apart from depression, this device is also used for treating pain related to muscles, joints, soft tissues, etc. This also treated minor pains related to migraine and post-surgery pain.

Main Differences Between TENS and IFC

1. TENS focuses on only reducing pain in a person’s body, and on the other hand, IFC focuses on the healing process of restoring tissues in a person’s body.
2. TENS helps stimulate the generated current, which initially flows through the electrodes of the body. On the other hand, the IFC helps convert the stimulation received at the point joining near the electric point into electrodes.

References

1. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/095939899307630
2. https://europepmc.org/article/med/26094328