Electrotherapy in Novato
Electrotherapy in Novato, CA — gentle Hakomed medium-frequency current helps ease muscle spasm, nerve pain, and neuropathy symptoms, drug-free. Book a visit.
DeSalvo Chiropractic
Electrotherapy in Novato
When pain or muscle spasm flares up, the last thing you want is another pill. Electrotherapy in Novato, CA at DeSalvo Chiropractic uses gentle, clinically advanced EMS medium-frequency currents (not TENS) to send low-level electrical pulses directly to the affected area — helping calm pain signals, relax tight muscles, and support 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
Helps calm pain signals without drugs or injections
Relaxes acute muscle spasm comfortably
Increases local circulation to support tissue healing
Reaches surface and deeper tissue in one short session
Complements adjustments by calming irritated muscles and nerves
Well tolerated by most adult patients
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.
One visit. Real answers. A plan made for you.
Reserved for new patients: an unhurried first visit with Dr. DeSalvo himself. Your one-on-one consultation, comprehensive exam, muscle and nerve function assessment and first treatment, plus a care plan designed around you, all for $97.
What your New Patient Special includes
- A one-on-one consultation with Dr. DeSalvo
- A comprehensive exam
- A muscle & nerve function assessment
- Your first treatment
- A customized care plan, built around your goals
New patients only, one per person. X-rays are not included. If you choose to continue care, your care plan and its pricing are discussed with you up front. Not available for 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 ease pain, relax muscle spasm, and support tissue healing. At our Novato office, Dr. Douglas DeSalvo uses Hakomed Horizontal Therapy, a medium-frequency form of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), rather than a basic TENS unit:
- Medium-frequency current reaches both surface and deeper tissue in a single session, so it can address muscle tension along with nerve-related symptoms like tingling or numbness.
- Electrical muscle stimulation produces a gentle, rhythmic muscle contraction that helps relax chronic spasm and improve local circulation.
There are no 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. 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 calming early spasm helps you move again sooner
- Neuropathy — tingling, numbness, or burning nerve pain, as part of a broader care plan
- Hand and wrist tingling from carpal tunnel symptoms, alongside adjustments and rehab
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 current. At our office we use Hakomed Horizontal Therapy, a medium-frequency system that reaches both surface and deeper tissue to help calm pain signals, relax muscle spasm, and support circulation. It is 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 within the first few 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?
No. Over-the-counter TENS units can provide temporary pain relief at home, but they work mainly at the surface. The Hakomed system we use delivers medium-frequency current with precise, condition-specific settings and professional electrode placement, as one part of your overall care plan.
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?
Often, yes. It is a useful conservative tool for calming the muscle spasm and nerve irritation that drive acute back pain and neck pain. We often pair it with a chiropractic adjustment in the same visit.
How is medium-frequency electrotherapy different from TENS?
A TENS unit uses low-frequency current aimed mainly at the sensory nerves near the skin to interrupt the pain signal. Medium-frequency electrotherapy, like the Hakomed Horizontal Therapy we use, penetrates deeper — so one session can address surface and deeper tissue, including muscle tension, spasm, and nerve-related symptoms such as tingling or numbness.
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 — it is usually one part of a broader plan. We routinely combine it with chiropractic adjustments, laser therapy, and physiotherapy in a single visit.
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Patient reviews
What our Novato patients say
“I had a great experience at DeSalvo Chiropractic! Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and professional, and I felt comfortable from the moment I walked in. They took the time to listen to my concerns and made sure I understood what they were doing throughout my visit.”
“Great chiropractic service! The staff was friendly and professional, and I felt comfortable throughout my visit. The treatment was helpful, and I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for quality chiropractic care.”
“I am an avid tennis player with the usual tennis injuries and Dr. Desalvo has helped me play again without pain!”