The Effect of Short Term Patient Outcomes With the Use of Interferential Current Therapy After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Interferential Current Therapy (IFC) is a form of electrical therapy that utilizes two simultaneous low frequency electrical stimulation which when they cross interfere with one another resulting in an interference or beat frequency. This beat frequency provides a therapeutic area of relief by blocking painful stimuli at the area of interest. IFC is different from the other electrical treatment modalities used because the cancellation effect allows for establishment of the treatment area to be in the deeper tissues of the body, whereas other electrical modalities can only be used to treat superficial body parts that lie just under the skin.

The main objective of this proposed study is to assess the post-operative short term outcomes of the patients who receive IFC treatment during their post-total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery hospital stay. The implications of the study would be improved patient outcome which could result in shorter hospital stay, reduced use of opioid medication, decreased need for manipulation under anesthesia and reduced re-admission rate.