Electric sympathetic block: a review of electrotherapy physics

Electric sympathetic block is the procedure whereby blockage of the sympathetic nerve fiber is achieved by applying controlled electrical pulses via electrodes placed on the skin. An electric block of the sympathetic fiber can occur with a direct monophasic current to achieve an anodal block, a middle-frequency or Endosan current to effect sustained depolarization, or an interferential current to achieve a fatiguing effect. The physics and theoretical framework underlying the currents used in this procedure will be reviewed.