Contrasts and Showers Flashcards
Define Contrast Treatments
an alternating in the application of warm/hot and cool/cold to the body or body part. Applied in cycles of warm and cold 3 times usually ending with cold.
How do you get a stronger effect with contrast treatments?
the greater the difference in temperature the stronger the effect
What are the alternate names from contrast treatments?
vascular flush or circulatory whip
How much does a contrast treatment increase local circulation?
Up to 100%
The average ratio for a contrast treatment is a ratio of what of hot to cold?
3 min hot 1 min cold
When combining a contrast treatment with another treatment how many times can the pattern be repeated?
3-4 times
When just performing a contrast treatment how many cycles can you do?
6-8
If just performing a contrast treatment and you want to do a larger amount of repetitions what do you need to adjust?
the temperature as the water warms or cools down
What is the minimum temperature difference between the hot and cold in a contrast treatment?
10 degrees Celcius
What are the indications for a contrast treatment?
conditions that would benefit from flushing of local tissues, circulatory congestion, any condition in subacute or chronic stages, in chronic inflammation can be used instead of heat, maintenance of highly used areas
What are the Cautions/Ci’s of a contrast treatment?
Peripheral vascular diseases, a person has the normal ability of the body to control vasoconstriction and vasodilation, not done with any condition with abnormal control
What changes about a contrast treatment when there is sub-acute inflammation?
want to increase the amount of cold used during the contrast
What changes about a contrast treatment when there is acute inflammation?
if not wanting to increase inflammation don’t use lots of heat, 5 min cold, 30s hot when trying to manage inflammation
What changes about a contrast treatment when inflammation is mostly gone but there is still swelling and residual bruises?
3 min cold 1 min heat
True or false: A contrast treatment involves alternating temperature applications to different areas
False: a contrast treatment involves alternating temperature applications to the same area
What is the difference between a shunt and a contrast treatment?
a shunt involves applying heat and cold to the body at the same time and to different areas of the body, a contrast treatment involves alternating temperature applications to the same area
What are the effects of a shunt?
enhances the effects of both retrostasis and derivation as you are increasing the movement of blood from one area to another
What are the indications of a shunt?
pounding headache, anywhere beneficial
What are showers/ affusions/sprays?
streams of water directed upon one or more parts of the body
What are the three different types of showers (mildest to aggressive) ?
affusions, showers, sprays
What is an affusion?
pouring water in a stream from a hose using very little pressure in a pre-determined pattern over the body
What are reinforcing affusions?
repeated applications to an area of the body only with cold
What are holding affusions?
prolonged application to a specific body part used to increase the effect. Application is not held over a specific point but remains in the general area being treated
What are the types of affusions? (regions)
leg/hip, knee, increasing temperature lumbar, back, upper body, arm, increasing temperature neck, face, full body
What are the general CI’s of affusion?
a full or empty stomach, dehydration, do not apply with 2+ treatments, chilled beforehand, chilled by treatment
What are the effects of a full-body affusion?
stimulates circulation, nervous system, immune system, decreases inflammation and pain
What are the indications for a full-body affusion?
circulatory problems, stimulation of the immune system, cooling the body after heat treatment, to promote alertness
What are the contraindications for a full-body affusion?
menstruation, oversensitivity, sciatic pain, bladder/kidney infection, low/high BP, bronchial asthma, severe cardiovascular disease, acute sinusitis, epilepsy
What are the effects of cold face affusions?
stimulates circulation, revives senses
What are the indications of a cold face affusion?
increase alertness and concentration, migraines, fatigue, increase facial skin circulation
What are the CI for a cold face affusion?
acute sinusitis, inflamed facial nerves
What are the uses of a shower?
before or after a massage treatment, homecare
What are the effects of a shower?
mechanical as well as thermal and neurological, depends on temperature and length of time
What are the precautions of a shower?
pooling on floor, grab bars, not over implants, patient tolerance
What are the CI’s for a shower?
cold shower for cold client, open wounds or sores, vertigo
What is the difference between a shower and a spray?
more aggressive, usually applied by the therapist
What are the uses of a spray?
prepare the body for aggressive treatment, to improve tolerance of cryotherapy
What are the effects of a spray?
cold and contrast sprays increase blood flow to the body’s surface, stimulating the skin, acts as an overall tonic, increasing energy and alertness
