Final answer:
During indirect high frequency treatments in health contexts, the client holds the high frequency electrode, and in surgeries, high frequency AC is used for cutting tissue, as it concentrates at the sharp edge of a surgical scalpel.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the client is holding the high frequency electrode, the application is called indirect high frequency. In surgical applications involving high-voltage electricity, such as using a metal scalpel that passes current through the tissue, we can expect most of the current to flow from the sharp edge of the scalpel. This occurs due to the nature of electric fields at the surface of conductors, which concentrate at sharp points leading to a higher current density. As for the frequency of the alternating current (AC) used, high frequency AC is typically employed because it cuts through tissue with minimized bleeding and helps in coagulating the blood vessels. Another medical application of high-frequency currents is ultrasound diathermy, which utilizes high-intensity ultrasound in tissue to be converted to thermal energy, aiding in deep-heat treatments. Frequencies of 0.8 to 1 MHz are commonly used in this therapeutic technique to relieve pain and improve flexibility in injured or overworked muscles.