<unk>  is primarily used in physical therapy for: * relaxation of muscle spasms * prevention and retardation of disuse atrophy * increase of local blood circulation * muscle rehabilitation and re-education * electrical muscle stimulation * maintaining and increasing range of motion * management of chronic and intractable pain including diabetic neuropathy * acute post-traumatic and post-surgical pain * post-surgical stimulation of muscles to prevent venous thrombosis * wound healing * drug delivery Some of the treatment effectiveness mechanisms are little understood, with effectiveness and best practices for their use still anecdotal. Musculoskeletal conditions In general, there is little evidence that<unk>  is effective in the management of musculoskeletal conditions. In particular, there is no evidence that<unk>  is effective in the relief of pain arising from osteoarthritis, and little to no evidence available to support<unk>  for the management of fibromyalgia. Neck and back pain A 2016 review found that, "in evidence of no effectiveness," clinicians should not offer<unk>  for the treatment of neck pain or associated disorders. Earlier reviews found that no conclusions could be drawn about the effectiveness of<unk>  for neck pain, and that<unk>  has limited effect on neck pain as measured by clinical results. A 2015 review found that the evidence for<unk>  in pregnancy-related lower back pain is "very limited". Shoulder disorders A 2014 Cochrane review found insufficient evidence to determine whether<unk>  was better than exercise at treating adhesive capsulitis. As of 2004, there is insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about any intervention for rotator cuff pathology, including<unk> ; furthermore, methodological problems precluded drawing conclusions about the efficacy of any rehabilitation method for impingement syndrome. Other musculoskeletal disorders There is limited, low quality evidence for a slight benefit of noxious-level<unk>  in the treatment of epicondylitis. A 2012 review found that "Small, single studies showed that some<unk>  modalities may be beneficial" in rehabilitating ankle bone fractures. However, a 2008 review found it to be ineffective in healing long-bone fractures. A 2012 review found that evidence that<unk>  contributes to recovery from knee conditions is of "limited quality". Chronic pain A 2004 Cochrane review found "weaker evidence" that pulsating electromagnetic fields could be effective in treating recurrent headaches. A 2016 Cochrane review found that supporting evidence for<unk>  as a treatment for complex regional pain syndrome is "absent or unclear." Chronic wounds A 2015 review found that the evidence supporting the use of<unk>  in healing pressure ulcers was of low quality, and a 2015 Cochrane review found that no evidence that electromagnetic therapy, a subset of<unk> , was effective in healing pressure ulcers. Earlier reviews found that, because of low-quality evidence, it was unclear whether<unk>  increases healing rates of pressure ulcers. By 2014 the evidence supported<unk> 's efficacy for ulcer healing. Another 2015 Cochrane review found no evidence supporting the user of<unk>  for venous stasis ulcers. Mental health and mood disorders Since the 1950s, over 150 published articles have found a positive outcome in using cranial electrostimulation (CES) to treat depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
Electrotherapy
Transcranial direct-current stimulation
Light therapy
Pulsed radiofrequency
Electric acoustic stimulation
Ultraviolet light therapy
Functional electrical stimulation
Transcranial magnetic stimulation