Strength Duration Curves Procedure
Strength Duration Curves Procedure
Strength Duration Curves Procedure
Aim : To plot SD curve for various major nerves in the body . Apparatus : Electrical stimulator with Diagnostic interupted Galvonic current facility 1. Skin resistance tray consisting of a) bowl of tap water b) soap c) macintosh d) kidney tray /plastic bowl e) towels & tissue paper 2. Treatment tray consisting of a) Leads b) electrodes c) Lint d) 1% saline warm water in plastic bowl . e) Supporting pads,pillows f) Cotton g) Talcum powder h) Vaseline i) Towels j) Velcrow straps /adhesive plaster
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First an electric stimulator with Diagnostic interupted Galvonic current facility is selected. Make sure that all the wires from mains to plug box and to the machine are intact and properly insulated Check the leads for any breaks in the insulation Test the machine by attaching leads and electrodes to the terminals and feel the current by switching on the machine and increasing the intensity Make sure that before on or off an apparatus ,all the knobs of intensity are at zero Select the appropriate and suitable electrode The electrodes should be properly linted. The inactive electrode is applied to some convinient area usually on the mid line of the body ,or over the origin of the muscle. The active electrode is usually a pen electrode. To assess a nerve, we choose a proximal muscle and a distal muscle supplied by that nerve in its course. The active pen electrode is placed over the motor point of the muscle to be tested The longest pulse duration is choosen first and the intensity of the current is increased until the minimum observable contraction is obtained. Note the intensity of current and reduce the intensity to zero Now shift the duration to secong longest duration and repeat the procedure.
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Now plot on a graph paper by taking duration on X-axis and intensity in Y-axis SD curve is drawn by connecting the plotted points.
Inference: By plotting the curve ,we can know whether a nerve is : a) Completely innervated b) Completely denervated c) Partially innervated and partially denervated Then, find the rheobase and chronaxie. Rheobase: the rheobase is the smallest current that will produce a muscle contraction. Chronaxie : it is the duration of the shortest impulse that will produce a response with a current of double rheobase.
GOWRISHANKAR
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