Class 1 Flashcards
What is hydrotherapy?
Use of water in any of its three forms for therapeutic benefit, to enhance impairment or wellness-based massage.
How is hydrotherapy used in massage therapy?
•Enhances impairment and wellness-based massage treatments
•Important part of self-care for the therapist
•Used as part of self-care for the patient
What are the core concepts of hydrotherapy?
• Body is always trying to maintain balance in all its functions (HOMEOSTASIS).
• Hydrotherapy (hot/cold applications of water, ice or steam) creates a STIMULUS that causes body to REACT.
• Specific PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES including CHANGES IN BLOOD FLOW/CIRCULATION occur in body to maintain HOMEOSTASIS.
• When choosing which type of hydrotherapy is indicated, we ask the questions: “Where do we want blood to flow from and/or to?
What is the definition of thermoregulation?
The term given to the body’s system for maintenance of body temperature is THERMOREGULATION
• Homeostasis maintains and readjusts the body temp to keep it within a narrow temp window:
- Body’s core temp is around 37 DEGREES
- Shell temp (the periphery) is usually 1-6 degrees cooler than the core
How does the body regulate our temperature?
• Changes in temperature detected by THERMORECEPTORS located in skin and within body
• When temperature stimulus is applied to body or when core body temperature begins to increase or decrease, thermoreceptors send signals via nervous system to brain.
• Part of brain that acts as thermostat (monitoring body temperature) is HYPOTHALAMUS. Controls our heat conserving and heat releasing mechanisms in body.
• BLOOD VESSELS just below skins surface play a vital role in thermoregulation by changing diameter (and therefore controlling blood flow) in response to temperature stimuli
Largest organ in body is _______________.
Skin
What are the 4 functions of skin?
- Protection
- Absorbtion
- Excretion
- Thermoregulation
When our core body temperature decreases due to exposure to a cold temperature stimulus, hypothalamus triggers what heat conserving mechanisms?
• Vasoconstriction
• Systemic metabolism increases
• Shivering
• Goosebumps/Piloerection
What is vasoconstriction?
blood vessels narrow in response to COLD to minimize
heat loss from skin’s surface; blood is moved from superficial tissues and extremities towards core
Why does systemic metabolism increases?
in order to generate more heat in body
What is shivering?
skeletal muscles contract rapidly; increased muscular activity results in generation of heat
What is goosebumps/piloerection?
provides a non-moving layer of air close to surface of skin which helps retain heat
When our core body temperature increases due to exposure to a hot temperature stimulus, hypothalamus triggers what heat releasing mechanisms?
• Vasodilation
• Perspiration
• Skeletal muscle tone is decreased
• Systemic metabolism decreases
