Diathermy Flashcards
Implications to thermal diathermy?
- Pain control
- Accelerated tissue healing
- Decrease joint stiffness
- Increased joint ROM
Implications to non-thermal diathermy?
- Control of pain and edema
- Soft tissue, nerve, and bone healing
- Improvement of osteoarthritis symptoms
Contraindications for all diathermy?
- Implanted or transcutaneous stimulators, including pacemakers
- Pregnancy
Contraindications for thermal diathermy?
- Metal
- Malignancy
- Eyes
- Testes
- Growing epiphyses
Contraindications for non-thermal diathermy?
- Deep tissue/ internal organs
- Substitute for conventional therapy for edema and pain
- Pacemakers, electronic devices, or metal implants
Precautions for using diathermy, which 2 are only for non-thermal?
All 1. Near electronic or magnetic equipment 2. Obesity 3. Copper bearing IUD Non-thermal 1. Pregnancy 2. Skeletal immaturity
What does the PT have to be conscious about with the applicator/distance when treating with diathermy?
PT needs to stay at least 1-2 m away from applicator during treatment and out of the direct beam b/c it gives off radiation.
What adverse effects can happen with diathermy?
Burns
- Particularly fat layers
- Keep skin dry
Diathermy capacitive plates heat mostly occurs in ______ tissue, and poorly heats _____ structures.
superficial; deeper
shortwaves
What thermal and non-thermal effects does diathermy have?
Thermal - same as thermal effects from other modalities, and can heat larger areas and deeper tissues at same time.
Non-thermal - increased microvascular perfusion, altered cell membrane function and cellular activity.
Diathermy inductive coils do what?
Produce a magnetic field (shortwave), strength is determined by distance of tissue from applicator.
Superficial heated better but is able to heat deeper structures.
Diathermy Magnetron (condenser) is better for what?
small areas, used microwaves that generate most heat to superficial tissues (less deeply that shortwaves)
higher risk of burns.
