Electrotherapy (Hydro Pack) Flashcards
Hydro pack first introduced in ?
1947
Hot packs transfers heat to the patients by?
Conduction
Hydro pack is made up of
Fabric envelope containing silica gel or
Bentonite crystal packs
The main property of the gel or crystal is the capability of it to?
Absorbs volume of water many times it own.
The packs are heated in a
Hydrocollator unit
The packs retains heat for how long ?
30-40 minutes
The pack is applied to the body after being wrapped in
Turkish towels
Special Terry cloth blankets
The temperature of the pack when heated is ?
75°c
The temperature of the skin does not rise above ?
42°c
The pack lasts about ? (Shelf life)
6 months
When should the pack be replaced ?
Begin to wear out and filler leaks out and makes water cloudy
(5)About hydrocollator unit ?
Is a stainless steel unit in which silica gel or bentonite crystal is being heated.
Capacities of the machines vary
With the base lined with insulator
Unit contain wire rack which which acts as divider for the pack and prevent contact with the bottom of the tank.
Thermostatically controlled maintain a tempt from 70° to 80°c
The pack takes about 2hrs to be fully heated.
Method of application
- Preparation of apparatus
- Allow to heat up to about 2hrs
- Preparation of patients
- Fill the unit with water and turn it on
- select the hot pack of particular size depending on the area to be treated.
- select the towel of a particular size so that the layers of about 4-8 layer is btwn the hot pack and the skin and maintains the tempt to 42°c.
- A plastic sheet is required btwn the pack and the towel to prevent it from getting wet and increase the insulating effect.
- the gel pack when removed from tank should be shaken to remove excess water.
- bell and other calling devices can be given to the patient so as to ask for help in case of any discomfort.
- After treatment,remove & inspect the part treated.
Advantages of hydro pack
- Easy to apply
- Have different sizes for different parts.
- Moist heat which has sedative effect.
- Low cost,minimal maintenance,long life.
- Patient does not need much handling
Disadvantages of hydro pack
- Not easily applied on shoulder and hips.
- its somewhat heavy should not be used on extremely sensitive patient can cause discomfort
- sometime moist pack can cause skin rash
- Active movement is not possible during treatment..
- does not retain heat for more than 30min
