Tecar Therapy

Original Editor - Angeliki Chorti Top Contributors - Angeliki Chorti

What is TECAR Therapy?[edit | edit source]

TECAR© stands for the spanish acronym Tranferencia Electica CApacitiva Resistiva, meaning Capacitive Resistive Electric Transference. It is a diathermy (i.e. deep tissue thermotherapy) therapeutic modality, therefore it uses increases in local body tissue temperature, in combination with subthermal application to promote the body's healing response.[1]

TECAR© technology is non-ablative, non-invasive, using currents of high frequency, usually in the range between 300 KHz and 1 Mhz. It can work in two modes of energy transfer: [2]

  • Capacitive mode: affects tissues with higher electrolytic content (soft tissues and muscles)
  • Resistive mode: affects tissues with higher resistance (joint, bone, tendon)

Watch this video[3] on TECAR© therapy:

Common uses in physiotherapy[edit | edit source]

TECAR©'s main use in physiotherapy relates to the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal and pain disorders, and sport rehabilitation. [1]Some commonly treated conditions are:

  • Acute or chronic injuries / inflammation
  • Muscle spasms
  • Joint pain
  • Synovitis
  • Tendinopathy
  • Post-surgical
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Low back pain

There are also other areas that TECAR© uses have been expanded such as pelvic health, physio-aesthetics, and veterinary rehabilitation.

Related studies[edit | edit source]

Data supporting the use of TECAR© is still preliminary. The effectiveness of TECAR© therapy in musculoskeletal conditions (low back pain, femur fracture, rotator cuff tendinopathy and delayed onset muscle soreness on the quadriceps) has been evaluated in a literature review supporting its exclusive or combined use. [4]Another review has also supported the use of TECAR© in the management of musculoskeletal conditions, but included evidence is low. [2]

Related cell, physiological and clinical research can also be found here.

Clinical bottom line[edit | edit source]

TECAR© is a non-ablative, non-invasive technology using currents of high frequency, usually in the range between 300 KHz and 1 Mhz. Its main use in physiotherapy relates to the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal and pain disorders, and sport rehabilitation, but there are also other areas that TECAR uses have been expanded such as pelvic health, physio-aesthetics, and veterinary rehabilitation. However, data supporting the use of TECAR is still preliminary.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 TECAR therapy. Available from: https://tecartherapy.com/technology/ (accessed 5/6/2022)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Hawamdeh M. The effectiveness of capacitive resistive diathermy (Tecartherapy) in acute and chronic musculoskeletal lesions and pathologies. Available from: https://eis.hu.edu.jo/deanshipfiles/pub110575125.pdf (accessed 14/6/2022)
  3. Gymna. What is TECAR therapy. Available from: https://youtu.be/dtjFo-Ij8lk (accessed 5/6/2022)
  4. Ribeiro S., Henriques B., Cardoso R. The effectiveness of Tecar therapy in musculoskeletal disorders. Int J Public Health & Health Syst 2018; 3(5):77-83.