Electrotherapy in Novato
Drug-free electrotherapy in Novato, CA — gentle TENS/EMS pulses calm muscle spasm, block pain signals, and accelerate healing after acute injuries and flare-ups.
DeSalvo Chiropractic
Electrotherapy in Novato
When pain or muscle spasm flares up, the last thing you want is another pill. Electrotherapy — using gentle, clinically advanced EMS medium-frequency currents (not TENS) to the affected area — sends low-level electrical pulses directly to the affected area, blocking pain signals at the nerve, relaxing tight muscles, and supporting the body's own healing process. Dr. DeSalvo uses electrotherapy as part of an integrated, drug-free care plan for patients across Novato, Marin County, and the North Bay.
How it works
What to expect with electrotherapy
- Step 1
Identify the target tissue
We review your history and perform a focused exam to confirm which muscles or nerve pathways are generating your pain or spasm — so we apply the current exactly where it will help most.
- Step 2
Set the right protocol
Specific protocols are chosen depending on the condition — acute flare-up, chronic spasm, post-injury recovery, or for neuropathy — and adjusted as you progress.
- Step 3
Combine and progress
Electrotherapy pairs directly with chiropractic adjustments and rehab exercises, giving your nervous system a calmer baseline so the rest of your care plan works faster and holds longer.
Why patients choose it
Benefits of electrotherapy
Blocks pain signals without drugs or injections
Relaxes acute muscle spasm quickly and comfortably
Increases local circulation to support tissue healing
Reduces inflammation in the treated area
Complements adjustments by calming the nervous system
Safe and well-tolerated for most ages and conditions
The basics
About electrotherapy
Hakomed Horizontal Therapy is a non-invasive, medium-frequency electrotherapy that delivers low- and medium-frequency currents through skin electrodes to help manage pain, muscle tension, and nerve-related symptoms like tingling or numbness. Because medium-frequency current penetrates deeper than standard TENS, it can address both surface and deeper tissue in a single short session — most patients feel only a mild tingling or pulsing sensation. It's commonly used for joint and muscle pain, musculoskeletal conditions, and neuropathy as part of a broader treatment plan.
This treatment is comfortable, completely non-invasive, and leaves no downtime. Because it targets the exact muscle or nerve group causing your symptoms, it complements spinal adjustments and soft-tissue work to give you faster, longer-lasting relief from acute flare-ups and stubborn chronic pain.
$67 gets you an answer, not another opinion.
A full first visit — consultation, examination, and a review of any prior x-ray or MRI imaging you bring with you. We find out exactly what’s wrong before anyone talks about treatment. If we can’t help you, we’ll tell you who can.
What your first visit includes
- Consultation and full health history with Dr. DeSalvo
- Movement, orthopedic and neurological examination
- Review of any prior x-ray or MRI imaging you bring with you
- A report of findings and your treatment options in writing
New patients only, one per person. Does not include on-site x-ray imaging, or automobile-accident or personal-injury cases. Read the full New Patient Special disclaimer.
What is electrotherapy?
Electrotherapy is a drug-free treatment that uses low-level electrical currents — delivered through small adhesive electrode pads placed on the skin — to reduce pain, relax muscle spasm, and support tissue healing. Two modes are used most often in chiropractic practice:
- TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) — pulses that interrupt pain signals before they reach the brain, giving fast, comfortable relief during and after a session.
- EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) — pulses that cause a gentle, rhythmic muscle contraction, flushing out metabolic waste and reducing chronic spasm.
Neither involves needles, medication, or downtime. The sensation is a mild tingling or pulsing — relaxing for most patients rather than uncomfortable.
What to expect
When you arrive for an electrotherapy session, Dr. Douglas DeSalvo will confirm the target area from your exam notes and position the electrode pads directly over the muscle or nerve group involved. The device is turned up slowly from zero until you feel a comfortable, steady sensation — never sharp or painful.
Most sessions last 10–20 minutes. You rest on the table while the current does its work; many patients find the rhythmic sensation calming. Electrotherapy is usually combined with a chiropractic adjustment and possibly laser therapy or physiotherapy in the same visit, so you get the full benefit of multiple tools working together.
You can drive yourself home and return to normal activity immediately — there’s no recovery time required.
Who it helps
Electrotherapy is a good fit for patients dealing with acute pain flares or stubborn muscle tension that is slowing down their recovery. It is especially useful for:
- Back pain — lower, mid, or upper — particularly when muscle spasm is a major component
- Neck pain and the tight, guarded muscles that follow a strain or adjustment
- Sprains and strains where reducing early inflammation and spasm accelerates healing
If you’re not sure whether electrotherapy is right for your situation, a thorough first-visit exam will tell us — and we’ll be honest if a different approach makes more sense for you.
Patient stories
Hear directly from patients who used electrotherapy as part of their neuropathy care: Larry’s severe neuropathy pain and tingling resolved, Mike’s neuropathy pain 90 percent better, and Jaime’s diabetes and neuropathy pain improved.
Why choose DeSalvo Chiropractic
At DeSalvo Chiropractic, we treat the cause of your pain rather than just suppressing the symptom. Electrotherapy earns its place in your care plan when it genuinely moves you forward — not as filler. Dr. DeSalvo integrates it with chiropractic adjustments, hands-on soft-tissue work, and corrective rehab so every visit builds on the last.
Patients from Novato and the surrounding Marin County communities trust us because we give you a clear, time-bound plan with honest expectations — and we don’t keep you coming in once you’re better.
Ready to calm that flare-up? Check out our New Patient Special or book your first appointment online in under a minute.
What it helps
Conditions we treat with electrotherapy
What is electrotherapy and how does it work?
Electrotherapy uses small adhesive electrode pads placed on the skin to deliver low-level electrical pulses. TENS mode blocks pain signals at the nerve level; EMS mode gently contracts the muscle to reduce spasm and boost circulation. Both are drug-free and non-invasive.
Does electrotherapy hurt?
No. Most patients describe it as a mild tingling, buzzing, or light pulsing — nothing sharp or uncomfortable. We start at a low intensity and adjust it to keep you comfortable throughout the session.
How long does a session last?
A typical electrotherapy session runs 10–20 minutes, usually as part of a broader visit that may also include a chiropractic adjustment and targeted stretches.
How many sessions will I need?
Acute flare-ups often respond noticeably within two to four visits. Chronic conditions may need a longer course. After your exam, Dr. DeSalvo gives you a specific, time-bound plan — not open-ended treatment.
Is electrotherapy the same as TENS I can buy at the drugstore?
Over-the-counter TENS units can provide temporary pain relief at home, but clinical electrotherapy uses medical-grade equipment with precise frequency and intensity settings, professional electrode placement, and integration with your overall care plan for better, longer-lasting outcomes.
Is electrotherapy safe?
Yes, for the vast majority of patients. We screen before every session. It is generally not used over metal implants, a pacemaker, an open wound, or during pregnancy — your exam ensures you're a good candidate.
Can electrotherapy help back pain and neck pain?
Absolutely. It is one of the most effective conservative tools for calming the muscle spasm and nerve irritation that drive acute back pain and neck pain. We often pair it with a chiropractic adjustment for the same visit.
What's the difference between TENS and EMS?
TENS targets sensory nerves to interrupt the pain signal — ideal for pain relief and acute flare-ups. EMS targets motor nerves to produce a gentle muscle contraction — better for reducing spasm, improving muscle function, and aiding recovery from sprains and strains.
Will my insurance cover electrotherapy?
Many major insurance plans cover electrotherapy when it is part of a documented chiropractic or physical rehabilitation plan. We verify your benefits before your first visit and also offer affordable self-pay rates.
Can electrotherapy be used alongside other treatments?
Yes — in fact, it works best that way. We routinely combine it with chiropractic adjustments, laser therapy, and physiotherapy in a single visit for a cumulative effect greater than any one therapy alone.
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