[1.2] Thermotherapy, Cryotherapy, Hydrotherapy

Question 1

list some general physiological effects of heat

Answer 1

• enhance tissue healing
• decrease pain
• decrease muscle spasms
• increase joint ROM

Question 2

when using a hot pack, what should you take into account?

Answer 2

size of the hot pack, hydrocollator

Question 3

what is the optimal temperature to set your hydrocollator at?
how many minutes between use and for how long/duration?

Answer 3

optimal temperature ranges from 158-169*

30 minutes between use for a duration of around 20 minutes (taking into account coupling thickness too)

Question 4

what is the ideal heating range for a hot pack?
what is something you MUST make sure of when using a hot pack?
generally describe the procedure of hot pack application:

Answer 4

• ideal range is around 104-113*
• understanding that too much heat can cause tissue damage, but too little will provide no therapeutic effect

Question 5

when using paraffin wax, what is the optimal temperature? duration?

Answer 5

temperature is 124-129* for duration of around 30 min.

Question 6

what is the oddball fact regarding paraffin wax?

Answer 6

wax is considered contaminated after use (throw out), some clinics don’t follow this or don’t use it all together as it can be done at home (no billing)

Question 7

when conducting fluidotherapy, answer the following:

• what is the optimal temperature range
• what is the air agitation speed range
• delivery method
• duration
• special perk

Answer 7

temperature range is 110-116*
air agitation speed is simply 0-100%
delivery method can be continuous or pulsed
duration is about 20 min
special perk is that the patient is allowed to move a little bit more than normal

Question 8

list some effects of cryotherapy

Answer 8

cooling (vasoconstriction, slow blood flow and cell metabolism)
decrease secondary tissue damage, edema, pain, muscle spasm/spasticity
**CIVD + blood flow changes

Question 9

what is CIVD? what happens?

Answer 9

CIVD = cold induced vasodilation
also called the “hunting response” it is when your body pulls heat from other sources (extremities) to apply at the source of cryotherapy to counter the application

Question 10

how long should an ice massage be?
how should it be conducted?
what way should you remember the application process?

Answer 10

an ice massage can be from 3-10 minutes via constantly slow movement (figure 8), you stop when the patient says the area is numb
- the progression is an acronym called “CBAN” which stands for cold…burning…aching…numb

Question 11

what are some research-based implications as to why cryotherapy is beneficial?

Answer 11

mixed post-op MSK conditions
ankle sprains
spasticity
joint/tendon/muscle conditions
arthritic/rheumatoid
TKA

Question 12

If swelling is natural, and cryotherapy causes vasoconstriction, how does reducing blood supply to an injured area facilitate healing?

Answer 12

when the critical timing of ice application, ice is thought to reduce the secondary tissue damage that comes from hypoxia in the tissues

Question 13

you apply ice to a patient for 3 minutes with a small massage–their skin turns red with patches, what is going on?

Answer 13

the patient has a “cold allergy” called Cold Uticaria.

the red patch (wheal) is a positive sign that they have Cold Uticaria.

Question 14

what are the 3 categories of properties (with examples) for hydrotherapy biophysics?

Answer 14

intrinsic properties (density, specific gravity, viscosity)
thermal properties (specific heat, thermal CONDUCTIVITY)
mechanical properties (hydrostatic pressure, buoyancy force, drag force)

Question 15

when discussing documentation basics, what is the most important thing to note with application of thermo/cryo/hydro-therapy?

Answer 15

the patients response to treatment