13 - Thermotherapy Flashcards
Types of Thermo therapy
- Hydrocollator (moist hot packs)
- warm whirlpool
- paraffin
- fluidotherapy
- contrast bath
- heat lamps
- topical counterirritants
Mechanisms of heat transfer
- conduction
- convection
- radiation
- conversion
conduction
heat transfer via direct contact
- hydrocollator packs
- paraffin baths
Convection
transfer heat by moving air/water particles across body part
- whirlpool
- fluidotherapy (chamber of dry air that is circulated)
Radiation
transfer of heat from a warmer surface to a cooler through air or vacuum
- infrared lamps
conversion
heat generated from another energy form
- ultrasound
- diathermy
superficial heat
heating of
- skin and small joints
- deeper muscles: quadriceps, hamstrings
- subcutaneous fat and skin pain makes keep eating difficult
Affects of thermotherapy
- pain relief
- calming/sedating effect
- spasm reduction
- increased mobility
Proof of thermotherapy effect of this
- better than Motrin at creating analgesic effect
- long-duration low-level heat can be beneficial for LBP
- shorter duration moist heat helps reduce myofascial pain
- proven to increase muscle length
thermotherapy indications
- decreased pain
- decrease spasms
- osteoarthritis
- rheumatoid arthritis
thermotherapy contraindications
- areas of impaired heat sensation
- malignancy
- thrombophlebitis
- hemorrhage
- abdomen, pelvis, low back in pregnancy
- acute inflammation
- views/unreliable patients
thermotherapy precautions
- impaired circulation
- over wounds
- severe cardiac insufficiency
- over superficial metal implants
- may cause decreased motor skill and reaction time
- increase fever
Hydrocollator Packs characteristics
- packs made from: canvas pouches containing silicate-gel
- temp = 158 – 169oF
- cloth covers
- Towels = 6 – 8 layers
- Terry cover ~ 4 layers
Warm Whirlpool characteristics
- 86 – 100oF
- Increase surface area, decrease heat used
- Time: 10 – 45 minutes
Warm Whirlpool contraindications
- Incontinence
- Fever
- Multiple sclerosis
- Pregnancy (1st trimester)
Sitz bath
used for soaking perineal/anal area for PAIN or ITCHING
- Plastic or stainless steel
- 72 – 100oF
Paraffin characteristics
- 124 – 129oF
- 6:1 mixture of Paraffin/mineral oil
- Put in plastic bag after dipping
Paraffin-Brushing technique
- Check contraindications
- Remove jewelry
- Use standard paint brush to apply 7 – 10 layers
- Wrap/cover in plastic and layer of towels
- Time = 30 mins
- Remove towel, plastic and wax
- Return wax to paraffin bath
Fluidotherapy
chamber of dry air that is circulated
- 110 – 126oF
Fluidotherapy
- Check contraindications
- Place injured area in machine
- Use toweling at the interface btwn machine and body segment
- Time = 30 mins
- Can do active exercises in machine
Infrared Lamp application
- Check for contraindications
- Remove metal from area
- Time = 15 – 20 min
- Depth of penetration = few mm
Infrared lamp amount of heat
depends on
- exposure time
- distant rumble
- angle of perpendicular
- output of bulb
Contrast Bath
- Subacute phase
- Allows transfer from cold modalities to warm modalities
- BAD for treating swelling
- Used for DECREASING PAIN
Contrast Bath procedure
- First modality = 1 – 4 minutes
- Second modality = 1 – 4 minutes
- Repeat 20- 30 minutes
- Make sure heating and cooling stay at appropriate temps
- Generally end with:
- Cold when vasoconstriction sough
- Hot when vasoconstriction sough
Topical counterirritant contains
- menthol
- Methyl salicylate
- Camphor
- Capsaicin
Topical counterirritant mechanism
- Through A-Delta and C0afferent fibers
- Inhibit pain
- Decrease pn, increase ROM
- No proof of deep tissue temp change
