Medical Disclaimer: The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See your health care provider before beginning any treatment. This information is for educational use only.
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Have a training question on how to use the Phoenix Waveform? Email your questions to drjbanas@gmail.com and Dr. Jeff will personally respond and then put up the response here to help other people get the most from the Phoenix Waveform.
Here is a list of questions clients have had. We have posted them here to help everyone out. As we get more questions we will post them. These are for educational purposes only. Consult your health care provider before beginning any therapy or training.
How does the Phoenix compare to ARPwave and Therastim?
We get this question a lot. We used the ARPwave and Therastim in our office for around 16 yrs. We had good results and the ARPwave and Therastim are good units. However, we felt there were a few drawbacks to these modalities, price, and access to the protocols being a few of them.
So our goal was to develop a more affordable alternative. Something that could produce similar or even better results than we experienced with these other modalities but at a better price point so more people could benefit from this type of therapy. The waveform of Therastim, ARP, and Russian Stimulation are sine waveforms. At the time, a sine wave was the best technology available. However, a sine wave is very crude. To obtain some result it has to be cranked up to a point where you feel a lot of pins and needles. A square wave on the other hand is cleaner and more efficient, and by virtue of the fact that it is generated with square wavefronts, it is not necessary to turn the intensity as high as you can. In other words, a square wave gets more bang for the buck than a sine wave.
With the Phoenix, we also added other helpful currents such as microcurrents. Which have been shown to help injured tissue heal faster and provide relief from pain caused by injury or chronic conditions.
Everything we did in our office with the Therastim and ARP, we have been able to do with the Phoenix.
We know some people will be skeptical because of the large price differences between the Phoenix and ARP and that is understandable. In fact, one clinic that uses, and sells the ARP (surprise, surprise), has publicly slandered us, calling us a knock-off, and spreading misleading information. Saying at our price point it has to be a knock-off or in some way not as good. But that was our goal: To develop more affordable option so that more could benefit from this type of therapy, and that is what we achieved with the Phoenix Waveform.
Don’t just take our word for it. Try the Phoenix for yourself. We offer a rental trial. For less than the cost of two ARPwave sessions at the clinic mentioned above, you can rent a Phoenix for an entire month and use it as often as needed and then you decide on its effectiveness. During the trial, you will have unlimited support from Dr. Jeff Banas so that you can get the most out of your trial period.
What mode for deep edema and accelerate blood flow/reduce edema?
The Phoenix is a lot deeper, so use that when it is needed to go deep into a joint.
Reversing polarity—specific benefits (tissue/cell alignment?) and purpose?
With a AC only current the current is traveling back and forth in both directions however the DC like part of the current is only traveling from Neg to Pos. Therefore, we reverse the current to saturate the tissue from both side. Basically, just getting the current in the tissue from different angles
How is the Phoenix Wave different than a Therastim or similar waves?
- it releases the action potential of the muscle in a shorter period of time (vertical rump-up)
- it optimizes pulse effectiveness thanks to the larger area (more intensity in less time) of the square wave as opposed to other wave shapes.
Post treatment “cooling”—benefit/purpose?
Use ECO Program or Sleep. Mostly a chance to relax after a hard workout. If you have the intensity high for training, therapy or whatever, you are in the Sympathetic fight or flight response. Remember, you are contracting the muscles at a rate of 500 contractions a sec.
You just had a fight with a bear, now it is a good time to calm down and relax.
The sleep has a 1HZ contraction which feels like an external heartbeat, like when you were in your mother’s womb. It’s very calming
Q) What cases is less power better than more (to the point of tolerance)?
Mostly muscle spams or contractures. Many times longer less intense current is better, however not used much in clinical settings for time reasons.
Q) Hot spot hunting principles/techniques?
See “HUNTING PROTOCOL” website:http://globusphoenixems.com/index.php/512-2/
Muscle “zone” training vs targeting specific muscle. Foot for example, multiple muscles and tendons.
Use the points found with the “HUNT” protocol
When is “micro current” effective?
Micro-current electrical neuromuscular stimulation or MENS, as opposed to conventional electrotherapy where milliampere (mA) currents are administered, uses currents whose intensity varies between 10 and 500 µA (microamperes, i.e. one millionth of an ampere).
Much scientific research shows that the ATP (adenosine 5′-triphosphate) synthesis level is increased by the application of micro-currents On the other hand, it seems to slow down when endogenous mA currents are applied.
In particular, the increment of the ATP synthesis reaches its maximum levels thanks to the administration of 500-µA currents, while, beyond this intensity level, it rapidly decreases. In the light of this, it is important to remember that ATP is the main source of intracellular chemical energy in every living organism and can be used in a wide variety of biological activities, including the healing process of damaged tissues.
Another very interesting aspect regarding the application of MENS is that the alpha-aminoisobutyric acid uptake increases noticeably thanks to the application of an exogenous current starting from an intensity level of 10 µA. On the other hand, starting with an intensity level of 750 µA, there is an inhibitory effect. Considering that the alpha-aminoisobutyric acid uptake is essential for the protein synthesis mechanism (which are at the basis of tissue repair processes), its increase by 30-40%, as is produced by MENS applications, could play an essential role in cell reconstruction process.
The basic mechanism causing an increase in ATP synthesis is essentially constituted by the fact that, during MENS-induced electrostimulation, a proton gradient is created, i.e. a variation in proton concentration, which causes the creation of a proton flow from the anode to the cathode. This proton flow through the mitochondrial membrane brings about an increase in ATP formation, which stimulates the transport of amino acids, two essential factors to increment protein synthesis.
MENS THERAPY
MENS therapy normally involves two distinct phases, the first of which aims at reducing the pain sensation felt by the patient, while the second phase promotes protein and ATP synthesis, thereby speeding up the tissue healing process. Treatment duration is normally between 15 and 30 minutes for the first phase and between 5 to 10 minutes for the second phase. The most frequently used parameters, which can however vary according to the type of pathology treated, for the first phase are: intensity between 1 and 5 µA with a frequency of about 5 Hz and with 250 millisecond wide pulses. As regards the second phase, the parameters normally used are: intensity between 10 and 200 µA with a frequency between 0.3 and 1 Hz and with 100 millisecond wide pulses.
The effectiveness of MENS therapy has been scientifically proven in the following fields:
• Reduction of edemas and swelling of a traumatized area.
• Osteoarthritis.
• Stimulation of the production of cartilaginous proliferation processes.
• Acceleration of tendon repair processes.
• Osteogenesis process facilitation.
Using sticky electrodes vs sponge electrodes. Convenience and comfort?
I use the carbon electrodes for the Hunt Protocol then usually replace them with the sticky electrodes and wrap them down. You can use the carbon and pads if you wanted to.
Using generic electrodes vs Globus sticky electrodes. Just comfort issue?
You need to use good electrodes. Santamedical 8 4″ X 2″ Re-Usable Tan Carbon Electrode Pads with Premium Gel – Satisfaction Guaranteed: from Amazon
Stretching:
General principles specific to stretching/pre-game warm up? Example Diamondbacks, what is their pre-game protocol?
Mobility Protocols:http://globusphoenixems.com/index.php/rapid-mobility/
Neurowarm up: Joint mobility exercise with the Phoenix over joints (Neurofeedback) while doing Movement Prep Exercises,Z-Heath Exercise, etc
Elongating muscles—power setting and duration?
Mild muscle contraction. Need to be able to move. The eccentric contractions causes growth of your muscle fibers, which increases the length of your muscles by increasing the sarcomeres in series within the muscle. Can use 500-100HZ
Stretching damaged versus normal muscles/tendons considerations
Muscles do not stretch the way most everyone thinks they do. You must continuously contract the muscles while lengthening them, from a position where those muscles are as short as possible and into a length where they are as long as possible. You can only lengthen to a range where the muscles being stretched can still resist. The resistance used to stretch a muscle must approach 2X’s the maximum resistance that the person can over come in
Resistance Strength Training. Contracting the muscle with the Phoenix Waveform during stretching takes the pain out of stretching and prevents over-stretching (over-stretching creates dangerous potential weaknesses in and around joint structures).
When you use the Phoenix Waveform to contract the muscles then you lengthen your muscles the result is an immediate, cumulative, and permanent change in resistance flexibility (note: range of motion is not the true flexibility range of the muscle) with a simultaneous increase in the ability of those muscles to shorten more optimally (the contraction stretch length is inversely proportional to the shortening length). Stretching without contracting a muscle produces a false range of motion known as substitution, and ultimately results in over-stretching and injury
The resulting improvements in muscle contraction while lengthening the muscles results in dramatic bio-mechanical realignment of the skeletal system – improved bone rotational relationships (BRI) occur. This translates into increases in speed, acceleration, and accuracy in skill level.
See also :https://www.thegeniusofflexibility.com/resistance-stretching/rfst.html
Rehab:
General principles specific to rehab/pain management
A lot of stuff here. I would say the main difference between a “normal” muscle stimulation and the Phoenix Waveform is based on getting 500 contractions a second and then lengthening the muscle, therefore having the affects of an eccentric muscle contraction. Similar to resisted stretching, but the Phoenix is doing the contraction rather than the patient .
The eccentric contractions causes growth of your muscle fibers, which increases the length of your muscles by increasing the sarcomeres in series within the muscle.
Please see this website: https://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article%20folder/eccentricUNM.html
For injured clients, eccentric exercise of the ‘healthy’ limb is a viable option for cross training of the immobilized limb (that has been injured or recently had surgery) (Housh, 1998).
Resistance exercise programs should include periods of eccentric exercise, as this will provide protection from injury or re-injury (if a client was previously injured) (Proske and Allen, 2005).
Hunting with rehab patients, considerations, anything unique?
See hunting protocol
Placement of electrodes?
See hunting protocol
Exercises—purpose of few reps (5 for example), then multiple sets with incrementally higher power settings. If important, how to increase power.
We have found that 5 is just a good number. You can always do a few more reps.
Purpose of revering polarity and repeat above procedure?
Basically, just getting the current in the tissue from different angles
Strengthening:
General principles specific to strength training.
Able to get strong muscle contraction with no stress on the joints.
Recruit more muscle fibers.
Able to take the brain out of it. Your brain will tell the muscles to stop, you can’t lift anymore. The Phoenix becomes the brain telling the muscles to contract. Able to do more reps. Can do “normal” strength training then when fatigued from training ca do Phoenix training to push a little more and get a few more reps in.
Use same protocols as rehab described above? How is it different?
Begin all strength with Mobility Protocol and Neuro Warm Up, for range of motion, stimulate muscle, enhance the brain-neuromuscular connection (See Halo)
I really like having people do core work while also using the Phoenix for strength training.
Pads on Gluts/Quads while doing barbell torque
Pads on Hamstring/Calf while doing push ups/planks
Isometric holds with stimulation
Agility work while Phoenix on joints/muscles
Typical use of Phoenix Wave for strength training. Traditional methods for overall strength training, then target specific muscles for accelerated muscle development?
Use 135-500HZ Setting. Some people can not handle 500HZ and you may be sore
Pads over muscle belly
Does this help for restless leg syndrome and if so how? Where do you put the pads and what is the protocol for it?
Do strength protocols at 500-135HZ
Do ECO Program pad on inside lower leg and upper quad
Does this help for fibromyalgia, and if so what is the protocol for that?
Do strength protocols at 500-135HZ
Do ECO Program pad on inside lower leg and upper quad
Q) I’m looking into treatments for diabetic neuropathy and came across the Phoenix. I’m curious if this product would help my condition that includes tingling, burning and cramping in both legs. This is on top of painful Achilles.
