Which polarity is commonly used with HVPC for wounds in the acute phase?

• A. Positive polarity
• B. Negative polarity
• C. No polarity
• D. Alternating polarity

Answer: (B)

Negative polarity is used with HVPC for wounds in the acute phase because the cathode placed over the wound bed supports the early healing processes. The electric field in this setup facilitates galvanotaxis, guiding key cells involved in repair—like keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and inflammatory cells—toward the wound to promote re-epithelialization and granulation. It also helps reduce edema by improving microcirculation and lymphatic drainage, which is important when inflammation is still active. In contrast, positive polarity or alternating polarity are generally avoided in the acute phase because their effects align more with later healing stages or with different therapeutic goals, whereas no polarity would miss these phase-specific electrotherapeutic cues.