ELECTROTHERAPY APPLIED TO SKIN WOUND HEALING:

LITERATURE REVIEW

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36489/nursing.2026v32i341p22377-22400

Keywords:

Wounds and injuries; Wound healing; Electrical stimulation therapy

Abstract

Objective: To identify the types of electrical stimulation (ES) described in the literature for the treatment of cutaneous wounds. Method: An integrative literature review was conducted using the electronic databases SciELO, LILACS, and MEDLINE (via PubMed Central) for the period from January 2017 to December 2025. The PICO framework was used as the search strategy for articles written in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Original full-text articles relevant to the research topic were included. Results: Five articles were selected. Most studies demonstrated accelerated wound healing with the use of electrical stimulation compared to standard therapy and placebo. Various ES modalities are available and successfully used for wound healing; however, the number of studies varies in quantity and quality across different application modes. Conclusion: Electrical stimulation demonstrates significant therapeutic potential by stimulating healing processes in various types of wounds. However, the specific effects of ES remain unclear. Further studies are needed to provide scientific evidence defining the factors that enhance the efficacy of ES.

 

Author Biographies

Francisco de Assis de Lima, UNIFESP

Mestrado Profissional em Ciência, Tecnologia e Gestão Aplicada à Regeneração Tecidual da UNIFESP.

Heitor Francisco de Carvalho Gomes, Universidade Federal de São Paulo

Heitor Francisco de Carvalho Gomes: holds a medical degree and a doctorate in Medicine from the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP). He is a supervising professor for the Professional Master's Program in Science, Technology, and Management Applied to Tissue Regeneration at UNIFESP.

Dr. Leila, Federal University of São Paulo

Holds a degree in Nursing from the Federal University of São Paulo. Holds a Doctorate in Sciences from the Graduate Program in Plastic Surgery at the Federal University of São Paulo. Permanent faculty member of the Professional Master's Program in Science, Technology, and Management Applied to Tissue Regeneration at Unifesp.

Dr. Lydia, Federal University of São Paulo

Lydia Masako Ferreira: Medical degree. PhD in Reconstructive Plastic Surgery – UNIFESP. Postdoctoral fellowship – University of California, San Francisco. Habilitation (*Livre-Docência*) – UNIFESP. Full Professor of Plastic Surgery – UNIFESP.

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Published

2026-09-24

How to Cite

de Lima, F. de A., de Carvalho Gomes, H. F., Blanes, L., & Ferreira, L. M. (2026). ELECTROTHERAPY APPLIED TO SKIN WOUND HEALING:: LITERATURE REVIEW. Nursing Edição Brasileira, 32(341), 22377–22400. https://doi.org/10.36489/nursing.2026v32i341p22377-22400

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