There are many potential benefits to electrical therapy. They include:

• It is easy to administer.
  
  
• It may increase range of motion, mobility and function.
  
  
• It may reduce or eliminate the need for pain medication.
  
  
• Some types may be administered by patients at home.
  
  
• It is cost-effective compared to many other types of treatments.
  
  
• Some types produce cumulative effects over successive sessions.

There are also some possible side effects associated with electrical therapy. They include:

• Some patients experience skin irritation and redness under the electrodes or other devices placed on the skin.
  
  
• Electrical currents can cause chemical burns or cardiac fibrillation (twitching of the heart muscle fibers).
  
  
• Some devices can raise or lower blood pressure or cause headaches, vertigo or nausea.
  
  
• Some devices may cause vasodilation (widening of blood vessels), which can worsen conditions such as blood clots and hemophilia.
  
  
• Excessive stimulation can cause muscle soreness or spasm.
  
  
• Patients may become tolerant to the therapy, meaning more treatment is needed over time to produce the same level of pain relief.