the interferential stimulation is for pain control, not loosening muscles. the pads get criss-crossed in order to cause a signal interference so there can be a large cloverleaf-like area of treatment.
also, a physical therapist can't "fix him once and for all". first, you don't know why he's going in the first place. second, he goes on and off, and it seems like chiropractic care is helping him out just fine. third, people mainly come back to the chiropractor's office because they're trying to keep their spine healthy and prolong early degenerative changes. it's not just about the pain symptoms, it's also about looking out for your future and making sure you don't end up the slow, elderly person whose hunched over you see shuffling along at the mall.
physical therapists are great at treating globally. they're garbage when it comes to treating segmentally.
if you're still coming into the chiropractic clinic without relief and the treatment plan isn't tapering off, then you're seeing the wrong chiropractor. also, if they aren't using therapy exercises to strengthen the weakened intrinsic muscles to problem areas to make them more stables so your adjustment would be more successful sooner, then you're probably not seeing the right guy.
edit: back to your original question, op. if you're going to get one, get a lsi system ii or chattanooga legend (xt or non-xt). i don't recommend it... i advise you to let someone who knows what their doing do it for you.
If the interferential electric stim is used BEFORE treatment, it does nothing to assure lessened pain. If you used the stim AFTER treatment, then the Gate control theory of pain would come into play (as you stated). Also, if you do ask many chiropractors, they talk about loosening you up with the electric stim + heat. It allows metabolites to be released during contraction of muscles and the heat allows for further vasodilation. So even if you don't use it for that reason, that's what many, many chiropractors do.
If you keep your muscles strong, they hold the spine in alignment. You CAN fix things once and for all. I've dealt with innumerable patients who have had a wide array of chiropractors work on them with good acute relief. However, everything always comes back. They problem is chiropractic work doesn't help the people prevent the prob. It just helps with the immediate pain. Get these people on a strength training program related to their needs and they'll have to see the chiropractor less, if at all.
Have you ever looked at available specializations for PT schools? The list on the APTA site includes cardiovascular and pulmonary, clinical electrophysiologic, geriatric, neurologic, orthopaedic, pediatric, sports, and women's health PT. On top of that, many PTs specialize on certain body parts due to experience. I've met several PTs who actually are specialists in spinal injuries. Many PTs are global practitioners, but there are also many others who are not.
I've never met a chiropractor who gives exercises for strengthening. It has always been passive treatment, forcing the patient to do nothing but lay down. Perhaps I may be speaking from bias with all this, but I've met my fair share of chiropractors. For all of them to not assign exercises... it seems more common than not.
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