4 - Hydro - 1 - Introduction Flashcards
Hydrotherapy
Application of water in any of its three forms for therapeutic purposes:
- solid - ice
- liquid - water
- vapor - steam
Hydrotherapy - Water
Has the ability to absorb in contact heat.
Soothing & nurturing
Solid state: effective cooling agent
Vapor state: facials & steam baths
Liquid state: sprays & immersion baths
Used to:
- control body temperature
- cleanse body
- stimulate circulation
- administrate chemical solution through the skin
- for therapeutic exercise
- encourage relaxation
- relieve emotional trauma
Hydrotherapy - Water - Temperature
Normal internal human body temperature is 98.6°F / 37°C
Water boiling point is 212°F / 100°C
Water freezing point is 32°F / 0°C
Hot water: 98.6°F (above body temperature)
Medium to warm water: 94°F to 96°F (slightly below normal body temperature)
Cool water: 70°F to 80°F
Cold water: 55°F & below
Hydrotherapy - Water - Type of body changes
Results of hydrotherapy
- Thermal - 1st the take effect
[produced by application of water temperatures above/below body temp. By bath, wrap, packs]
- Mechanical
[produced by pressure exerted on the body surface by sprays, whirlpool baths & friction]
- Chemical
[Produced by drinking water as an aid to digestion and elimination]
Hydrotherapy - Body reactions to water treatments - Water treatment
Based on simple physical property of water: heat, cold & pressure can be conveyed to many blood vessels & nerves in the skin.
Average skin surface temperature: 92°F
Water approximating the skin temperature has no marked affect on the body.
The greater the difference between the water and the skin temperatures, the greater the stimulating affect of the treatment
Hydrotherapy - Body reactions to water treatments
Body reaction may be either stimulating or sedating to:
- the circulatory system
- nervous system
- eliminatory processes
Hydrotherapy - Body reactions to water treatments - Physical changes
Body strives to maintain internal body temp regardless of external environment temperature.
When heat or cold is applied, physiological changes occur, depending on:
- the temperature
- duration of exposure
- size of the treated body area
- body part thermal conductivity
Treatments of short duration may have different effects than longer treatments
Hydrotherapy - Body reactions to water treatments - General application effects
Systemic effects
Hydrotherapy - Body reactions to water treatments - Local application effects
Immediate responses in our current in the area of being treated
Hydrotherapy - Body reactions to water treatments - Systemic effects
Changes that occur in the functionally related group of parts or organs
Hydrotherapy - Body reactions to water treatments - Reflex effects
Not the immediate responses of the skin area but effects that occur elsewhere in the body through the nervous system
Hydrotherapy - Body reactions to water treatments - Physiological effects
Physiological effects from heat/cold application are predictable making them a powerful therapeutic agent
Hydrotherapy - Body reactions to water treatments - Extreme temperatures
To avoid or use under very close supervision
Thermal treatment below freezing or above 115°F may damage tissues
Risks:
- Prolonged general treatment below 70°F: Hypothermia
- Prolonged general treatment above 110F: Hyperthermia
Either condition is potentially dangerous
Hydrotherapy - Application of heat - Heat
Measured in terms of the calories
1 cal= amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of 1 g of water 1° on the centigrade scale.
This unit sometimes called: small or gram calorie (different from large calorie = kilocalorie equal to 1,000 calories used in nutrition)
Hydrotherapy - Application of heat - Type of application
Depends on:
- the body parts to be treated
- its condition
- the objectives of application
Application types:
- dry heat - heating pad, infrared radiation
- moist heat - immersion baths, sprays (pulsating), moist heat pack, steam & sauna bath
- Diathermy: high-frequency electrical currents used to heat deep muscular tissues such as shortwave, microwave & ultrasound
Hydrotherapy - Application of heat - Reaction to heat application
Depends on the intensity of the heat application.
Immediate reaction can be:
- mild application: analgesic effect
- moderate application: stimulating effect
- extreme application: fear of pain
Hydrotherapy - Application of heat - Therapeutic effects
- Extensibility of collagen in tissues is increased
- Joint stiffness is decreased & range of motion is increased
- Pain is relieved (analgesia)
- Muscle spasm are reduced and relieved
- Blood flow is increase (vasodilation)
- Sweating is increased
- Pulse rate is increased
- Respiration rate is increased
- Number of white blood cells in treated area is increased
Hydrotherapy - Application of heat - Local effects of heat - Superficial heat vs. deep heat
Superficial heat treatments: do not elevated temperature of musculature or increase blood flow
Deep heat treatments: increase blood flow & deeper structures temperature
Hydrotherapy - Application of heat - Local effects of heat - Moist heat vs. dry heat
Moist heat penetrates deeper than dry heat
Hydrotherapy - Application of heat - Local effects of heat
Local effects of heat: largely confined to the skin and subcutaneous tissues.
Most important local effects: increase in the metabolic rate of cells
Chemical local effects: vasodilation of the local vasculature causing:
- opening of the vessels & increase of blood flow to treated area
- local redness (= erythema)
- changes in red and white blood cells of the treated region (incl. increase in number & in the speed of movement, facilitating the healing process & repairing of damaged tissues)
Hydrotherapy - Application of heat - Systemic effects of heat
Have the most pronounce influence on the cardiovascular system