Caitlin McCaffery Chiropractic Care

INDIBA® (448 kHz) Radiofrequency Therapy

INDIBA® is one of the most valuable tools I use in practice because it’s comfortable, non-invasive, and easy to tolerate. It’s a form of capacitive–resistive radiofrequency (CRET) delivered at an evidence-based frequency of 448 kHz, designed to support recovery through a combination of bio-stimulationand a safe, controllable thermal effectwhen needed.

Why it works so well alongside hands-on treatment and rehab

A key benefit of INDIBA is the “rehab window” it creates. It can help increase circulation and tissue warmth, and these effects can continue after the session, which means we can get more out of your appointment — mobilisations, soft tissue work, stretching, and progressing the right exercise at the right time.

What’s happening at a tissue and cell level

A simple way to think of INDIBA is that it helps create the right conditions for tissues to recover. Research on 448 kHz therapy shows changes linked to cell signalling and gene expression (mRNA)associated with repair processes, alongside improvements in local blood flow and tissue response. In practice, this supports a clearer pathway from pain reduction → better movement → targeted strengthening and return to function.

What we use it for

INDIBA is especially useful for:

• Persistent pain and inflammation

• Tendon and ligament rehabilitation

• Muscle injuries and recurrent tightness

• Joint pain and stiffness

• Pre- and post-operative rehab support

• Chronic and overlapping pain presentations, where progress has been slow with standard approaches

The key point

INDIBA isn’t a stand-alone “quick fix”. It’s most effective when combined with skilled hands-on treatment and target-specific rehabilitation, helping you progress more comfortably and build more resilient long-term outcomes.

And for those who love the science !

INDIBA® delivers CRET (capacitive–resistive electric transfer) radiofrequency at 448 kHz, producing a dose-dependent combination of non-thermal bio-stimulationand controlled thermal effects (when indicated). Clinically, this can shift the local tissue environment (e.g., temperature/perfusion) and create a practical “treatment window” where manual therapy plus graded loading/exercise can be progressed more comfortably and effectively.

At a cellular level, 448 kHz currents have been associated (in experimental models) with modulation of repair-related cell signalling pathways, commonly described in terms of MAPK/ERK (e.g., ERK1/2) activation, downstream protein signalling cascades, and changes in gene transcription / messenger RNA (mRNA)expression linked to tissue remodelling. In simple terms: the stimulus may influence signalling and transcriptional activity that supports recovery-oriented responses, depending on tissue state and dosing.

From a rehab perspective, the value isn’t RF as a stand-alone fix, but as an adjunct that can help reduce pain sensitivity and improve tolerance to movement/loading, enabling earlier progression of target-specific, discipline-specific rehabilitationand functional return-to-task.