The effects of different types of current on the organism
From WikiLectures
| A type of current | electrolytic effects | irritant effects | thermal effects |
|---|---|---|---|
| direct current | + | only when suddenly changed, switched on or off | – |
| alternating low frequency | faintly | + | – |
| alternating high frequency | – | – | + |
The body's aqueous environment contains ions - an electrolyte. Direct current therefore has electrolytic effects on the body , and current densities of around 0.5 mA/cm 2 can cause serious tissue damage.
Alternating low-frequency (50–500 Hz) current has only weak electrolytic effects because the polarity of the electrodes alternates periodically. However, it has significant irritating effects , which are manifested on the muscle by its twitching (and when it passes through the heart muscle , it can cause it to stop).
Alternating high-frequency current has no electrolytic effects, and at frequencies above 100 kHz, there are no irritating effects at all. Thermal effects are fully applied here .
