Cold Modalities Flashcards
Cold modalities are used to treat
Acute injures (24-48hrs after an injury or re-injury such as post exercise)
Cold modalities can produce, reduce, lower, and decrease which 4 things
1) Decrease spacticity or spasm
2) Reduce edema
3) Lowers tissue temp.
4) Produces analegsia
How do cold modalities decrease spaciticy or spasm
What clients does this work well for
Cooling causes slowing of muscle contraction and relaxation of the muscle fiber.
Decrease muscle spasm and increased ROM when combines w/ static stretch or contract-relax techniques.
Works well for clients with acute bursitis or tendonitis or those with spasm secondary to pain.
How do cold modalities reduce edema
What does it work best in combination with
Vasoconstriction as a response to decreased tissue temp. by sympathetic reflex response to the smooth muscle of the blood vessels.
Works best when combined with elevation and/or compression.
Cold modalities effect on tissue temp.
1-2cm effect on the tissue: superfical which lowers metabolic activity.
How do cold modalities produce analgesia
It produces a decreased perception of pain because small, mylinated pain fibers are the first affected by cold, reducing nerve velocity slowing the perception of pain.
Pt.s response to cold (5 phases)
1) Intense cold w/ reddening
2) Burning sensation
3) Deep achy feeling
4) Analgesia (numbing)
5) Rewarming (x15-20min)
Cold modality used when targeting a small area, to anesthezie or to target a trigger point.
Ice massage (can use a frozen styrofoam cup)
Cold modality used when needing to cool a larger area
Cold pack (Can be commercially prepared or a bog of frozen food)
Cold modality used in order to ass compression to the modality or a more moldable way to apply cold to a difficult area of application.
Cyrocuff/Cold compression unit
An aerosal more commonly used in higher level sports activities that is directed at a trigger point for a spray and stretch technique.
Vapocollant sprays
Contraindications to cold modalities (5)
1) Cold hypersensitivity
2) Raynauds
3) Cryoglobulinemia
4) Over a regenerating peripheral nerve
5) Compromised circulation
Precautions to cold modalities (8)
1) Never place a gold gel pack directly on the skin
2) Never use longer than 20 min.
3) Avoid use with pts/ w/ cold urticaria, PVD, hypertension, frostbite, or monitor them closely
4) Avoid use over superfical nerves
5) Avoid over an open wound
6) Avoid over areas of poor sensation
7) Obese pts. may need more time to achieve effects
8) Kids & Elderly may need more layering due to decrease adipose.
Application of Ice Massage and time frame
Use and ice wand w/ gel or an ice cube/block in a styrofoam cup w/o gel.
Slowly rub the ice in rhythmical circles. Using the largest side of the cold tool, maintaining direct contact with the skin.
Inform the pt. of the stages of cold.
Usually takes 2-5 minutes.
Stop when lost of feeling of touch or cold occurs.
Application of cold packs and time frame
Apply directly to the area using a moist thin towel (will increase rate of cooling) or dry pillow case.
Be aware of bony prominences, providing adequate insulation from cold.
Can wrap w/ an ace wrap to provide compression (will intensify cold)
Leave on for 10-15min
