Based on the information gathered from the interview and physical examination, the cause of the patient's complaints (pathophysiology) is evaluated from a modern medical perspective, and the treatment corresponding to that pathophysiology is selected.
Two factors in the selection process are the selection of the tissue in which the pathology exists and the selection of the frequency and stimulation time corresponding to the purpose of treatment.
Pathophysiology here refers to pathophysiology related to the cause (e.g., soft tissues around muscles, nerve roots, and intervertebral joints in low back pain) and secondary or reflex pathophysiology (e.g., lower limb muscle tone imbalance in low back pain, elevated sensory threshold and mental tension as a normal response in pain disorders).
Thus, in determining the target of treatment, one may treat only the pathology associated with the cause, or one may treat the cause and secondary pathologies.
