Bio-adaptive impulse therapy is suitable for a wide variety of injuries, ailments and disorders.

A hand-held device with two stainless steel electrodes is placed or (more usually) moved over the skin, intended to deliver (via the skin) a non-invasive therapy to the body's physiological systems.

The device emits a micro-electric impulse. From the moment it is placed on the skin, the device monitors electrical feedback from the body, and adapts its signal in response (up to many times a second). In this way, the device establishes something like an interactive real-time dialogue with the body and its central nervous system.

It is hypothesised that treatment gives the body the informational nudges it needs to mobilise its inherent healing capabilities, self-regulating processes, and pain-relieving mechanisms.

Treatment can be complementary with other treatments (e.g. surgery, medication, physiotherapy, massage, rest).

Technical notes: The device is hand-held, non-invasive, electrotherapeutic, and can be used to reduce acute and chronic pain, improve blood circulation, perform passive muscle stimulation and facilitate functional restoration and improvement. The device uses the process of non-invasive neurostimulation. The device is applied to intact skin. Direct application on injured skin is not advised. The recommended treatment duration for the device ranges from a few minutes to a maximum of 1 hour.

Any condition where the body can sort or improve itself without outside intervention can potentially benefit from bio-adaptive impulse therapy. As a guide, we give below some cases that we have treated successfully:

• Pre-op care (with the aim of avoiding the need for surgery). Examples: carpal tunnel syndrome (wrist); torn meniscus cartilage (knee).

• Post-op care (with the aim of hastening recovery, while reducing pain and discomfort). Example: complex fracture of the forearm.

• Inflammation and swelling/oedema.

• Fresh injuries (e.g. sprains, strains and bruising from sports or falls). Examples: acute ankle sprain; acute wrist sprain; shoulder injury from fall; injuries to all 4 limbs from fall.

• Chronic and niggling injuries, wear and tear. Examples: chronic neck stiffness; tennis elbow; frozen shoulder; chronic shoulder injury; repetitive strain injury (RSI) - wrist; plantar fasciitis (foot).

• Chronic pain. Examples: fibromyalgia; chronic back pain; chronic neck pain; (probable) trigeminal neuralgia.

• Soft tissue injuries (including cartilage, cartilaginous tissue, tendons). Examples: acute Achilles tendinitis; fully ruptured Achilles tendon (separation of muscle and tendon); anterior labral tear (hip).

• Behavioural, stress and sleep. Examples: ADHD (adult and child).

• Immune/auto-immune. Examples: hay fever; persistent mild cough.

We make no promises regarding individual treatments.

Success in the above examples is defined as either (a) 100% restoration of function with no recurrence; or (b) significant improvement, with the client satisfied and seeing no need for further treatment.

There are not many contraindications. However:

We do not treat:

- on an open wound

- on injured skin (e.g. open wounds and/or wounds which have not yet completely healed)

- if skin is irritated

- in body orifices (e.g. inside the mouth)

- near or over a tumour or cancer

We do not treat the following clients:

- women who are pregnant but not in labour

- people who are carriers of active implants (e.g. cardiac pacemakers)

- people with a cochlear implant

- people with a history of epilepsy or other seizures

- people with a history of cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)

We do not treat clients:

- with malignant diseases without consultation with a doctor

The devices we use exhibit extremely few side effects. The following can, however, be regarded as side-effects:

Symptom intensification:

Symptoms may intensify during the treatment period since the body is "dynamised". In individual cases, this may be accompanied by stronger pain, muscle ache and other reactions, but they generally cease quickly. Should they last longer, treatment should be interrupted for a few days, and if necessary, a medical professional should be consulted.

Nickel allergy:

Like all metals, the steel of the electrodes we use may contain traces of nickel. Patients with pronounced nickel allergy may therefore experience skin irritation. In such cases, treatment should be interrupted and medical professionals consulted (who must decide whether to continue therapy based on a risk-benefit assessment).

Please complete our Request an Appointment form.

Before coming to an appointment, we ask our clients to follow these simple guidelines:

• Do not shower or bathe for at least 1 hour (preferably 2 hours or more) before your appointment. This is because the device we use needs natural body moisture for electrical conductivity.
  

• Wear comfortable, loose clothing.
  

• Wear natural (not artificial) fabrics as far as is reasonably possible (e.g cotton). This is to help limit possible electrical interference with the device (static).

• If you have a scan for your ailment, please bring this with you (or email it to us in advance).

We operate from two locations:

• Ilam, Christchurch (serving Christchurch, Canterbury and beyond)

• Frankton, Queenstown (serving Queenstown, the Southern Lakes District and beyond)

  Both locations have ample off-street parking.

Monday to Friday between 9:30am-12:30pm and 4:30pm-7:30pm (excluding public holidays).

By appointment only.

• $180 for the first appointment

• $120 for the second and subsequent appointments (if needed)

Many ailments and conditions can be addressed in 1-3 treatments. Others may take longer. As a rule of thumb, recent injuries might be addressed in one treatment, chronic conditions might take longer, requiring a course of treatment over weeks or months. But this is not a hard and fast rule. These things will normally be discussed before any proposed second treatment.

Yes. We prefer to treat at our normal places of business, and during our opening hours (see above). However, if circumstances dictate, a visit to the client's home may be possible. Similarly, it may be possible to treat a client outside of our normal opening hours.

We first started using the technology in 2008, and have treated a wide variety of cases since early 2021. Our company Southern Kiwi Limited was formed in 2024, when we started taking paying clients. We moved to our current premises in Christchurch in 2025, when we also opened our Queenstown branch.

Bio-adaptive impulse therapy is well-established in Europe, and deserves to be better known and widely used in New Zealand. Some of the medical professionals who may be interested in learning more about the system of therapy or referring patients/clients, include:

• Doctors and surgeons,

• Nurses and nurse technicians,

• Physiotherapists,

• Dentists,

• Podiatrists,

• Remedial massage therapists, and

• Pain management specialists.

We use the key devices from German manufacturer Keytec GmbH (the principal one being medkey). We do not sell these devices, and have no financial interest in the sale of these or related devices.

The key devices are registered with Medsafe.

Many of our clients are happy to talk to medical professionals. Should you be interested in discussing any specific cases directly with them, please contact us.