What is the Difference Between Faradic and Galvanic Current?

The main difference between faradic and galvanic current lies in their duration and the type of muscles they are used to stimulate. Here are the key differences between the two:

Faradic Current:
Faradic current is an interrupted direct current with a frequency of 50-100 Hz and pulse durations ranging from 0.5 to 5 ms.
It causes contraction and relaxation in innervated (nerves intact) muscles.
It is used for muscles that have intact nerves and can be painful for patients due to its short pulse duration.
Faradic current is usually applied to produce movement and replicate the lost range of motion.
Galvanic Current:
Galvanic current is a long-duration interrupted direct current with a frequency of 30 Hz and pulse durations of 1 ms or greater.
It is primarily used for denervated (nerve-injured) muscles, as these muscles respond well to such stimuli.
Galvanic current is not as painful for patients as faradic current due to its longer duration.
It has properties that maintain muscle nutrition, prevent denervation atrophy, and improve absorption and pumping function in muscles.

Both faradic and galvanic currents increase blood flow to the area treated, causing slight redness due to vasodilation, and both cause muscle contraction similar to voluntary muscle contraction. However, faradic current is used for innervated muscles, while galvanic current is used for denervated muscles.