Faradisation

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The application of electrical currents, especially alternating ones, to stimulate muscles or nerves for therapeutic purposes; the process involving electrotherapy devices that generate such currents to treat physical ailments or pain; the technique of using electrical impulses to induce muscle contractions or nerve responses in medical treatment
2. A method of delivering controlled electrical stimulation to body tissues to promote healing or relieve pain; the therapeutic use of faradic currents produced by specialized equipment to activate muscles or nerves; the clinical practice of applying pulsed electric currents for rehabilitation or pain management
3. The clinical procedure using alternating electrical impulses to induce muscle activity or nerve reaction for therapeutic effect; employing specific electrical treatments designed to enhance muscle tone or reduce discomfort; the therapeutic process involving electrostimulation to aid recovery and improve physiological function

Etymology: Faradisation names the use of electric current to stimulate muscles and nerves, and it is named after Michael Faraday, the English scientist whose experiments on electromagnetic induction made such currents possible. The word is built from his name with the suffix "-isation," which carries the sense of subjecting something to a process, so the term literally means treating a body with Faraday's kind of induced current. The spelling "faradization" with a "z" is the more common form in American English, while "faradisation" with an "s" follows British usage. Both spellings refer to the same medical technique, and the choice between them is simply a matter of regional convention.

Synonyms: electrotherapy, faradization, electric stimulation, electrical therapy, galvanization