Radiofrequency ablation therapy (RFA)
What is radiofrequency ablation therapy (RFA)?
This method uses the oscillating effect of high-frequency current, by which tumor tissue is broken down. It increases the mobility of the joint, loosening joints and muscles stiffened by adhesions, and improves blood flow, so the increased supply of oxygen, nutrients, antibodies and white blood cells removes the underlying cause of the pain. Unlike other forms of electrical current, it does not stimulate the sensory or motor nerves, so a specific area inside the body can be treated without causing discomfort or muscle contraction.
Benefits of RF thermal ablation
- 1
- Analgesic action
- 2
- Heat is widely used to relieve musculoskeletal pain. In pain caused by ischemia, the local hyperemia produced by heat relieves the pain. Short-wave diathermy is particularly useful for relieving pain in deep tissues such as muscle, ligament and periarticular tissue, while microwave diathermy is particularly useful for musculoskeletal pain in superficial muscle, ligament and the tissues around small superficial joints.
- 3
- As for the increase in blood flow, when the local temperature of the tissue rises above 42°C, a direct effect increases blood flow by 50-100%, dilating the arteries and capillaries and raising the volume of blood flow. The increased blood flow clears metabolic waste and increases the supply of oxygen, nutrients, antibodies and white blood cells.
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- In the treatment of malignant tumors, a moderate rise in local temperature increases metabolism, so cancer cells grow faster and metastasis is promoted; but raising the local temperature above 42℃ kills the cancer cells or at least suppresses their growth and metastasis.
Indications for RF thermal ablation
Treatment of disc herniation, spinal stenosis, spondylolysis, the period after neuroplasty, the period after a disc procedure, radiating pain (numbness) in the arms/legs, chronic pain (neck/back) and more
Treatment of musculoskeletal conditions including sprains, muscle tears, tendon tears, ligament tears, joint capsule injuries, degenerative joint disease, chronic arthritis, joint stiffness, contracture, hematoma and subacute traumatic arthritis
Treatment of tenosynovitis, synovitis, bursitis, abscess, carbuncle, sinusitis, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, shingles, menstrual pain and more
Used as a pre-exercise measure: before stretching to treat soft tissue contracture, before using a continuous passive motion device, and before functional electrical stimulation therapy
Post-treatment precautions
- Treatment results and duration may vary depending on individual symptoms.
- Temporary side effects may occur after treatment and vary with each individual's condition.
