Hydrotherapy Flashcards
Hydrotherapy definition
Use of water for therapeutic purposes
Intrinsic Properties of Water and their Definitions (3)
- Density: Compacted arrangement of molecules
- Specific gravity: : Weight density of a substance compared to water determines ability to float
- Viscosity: Molecular binding force (stronger the bind= more viscous)
Thermal Properties of Water and their definitions (2)
- Specific Heat: Capacity to hold heat
* Thermal conductivity: Ability of substance as a heat conductor
Mechanical Properties of Water and their definitions (3)
• Hydrostatic Pressure: Amount of pressure enforced on a submerged
substance
• Buoyancy Force: Submerged object will experience an buoyant force in the vertical or upward direction. The center of volume of an object or person will rotate/ adjust to be vertically aligned with the buoyancy force. Induces a state of relative body weightlessness.
• Drag Force: Resists movement of the object in a parallel but opposing direction.
Ways to modify the biophysiological aspects of water (4)
- Viscosity via water temperature
- Vary hydrostatic effect via level of submersion
- Vary buoyancy force effect via level of submersion
- Vary drag force via changing velocity of movement
Therapeutic water range of water
97 to 104 degrees F
How does hydrotherapy help wound care
Cleansing properties of water facilitates rehydration & removal of wound debris & necrotic tissue.
Contraindications to Hydrotherapy (10)
- Over skin when hot/cold sensation discrimination is severely impaired
- Over macerated tissues
- Over bleeding surface
- Patients with fecal/urinary incontinence
- Patients with fever
- Patients with multiple sclerosis
- Patients allergic to additive solutions
- Women in 1st trimester of pregnancy (only hot water immersion)
- Patients with severe cardiac/respiratory disorders
- Confused or unreliable patients
Five risks of hydrotherapy
• Thermal skin damage • Macro shock & electrocution • Falling • Fainting & drowning • Pathogen transmission & contamination
How is non immersion hydrotherapy delivered
via manual water irrigators (spraying)
Whirlpool uses
Used to treat open wounds, for pain control & for exercise but only limited to leg, foot, arm & hand.
What is the difference between extremity tanks and Low-boy/Hi-boy tanks
extremity is used for distal extremity, low-boy/hi-boy tanks are for larger parts of extremities up to waist immersion
Two advantages of whirlpool therapy
- Weak muscles can move easier in water than dry land
* Allows movement while heat/cold is being applied
disadvantages of whirlpool therapy (5)
• Size of tank limits amount of exercise & size of area than can be treated
• Requires a large quantity of water
• Risk of infection
• Costly (to heat water &
cleaning the machine)
• Requires more time from therapist to assist patient dressing, get in/out of machine etc.
Temperature range of 32 to 79 degrees F has what sensation and what clinical application
cold, acute inflammation
Temperature range of 79 to 92 degrees F has what sensation and what clinical application
tepid, medium for exercise and acute inflammation if colder temperature is not tolerated
Temperature range of 92 to 96 degrees F has what sensation and what clinical application
Neutral warmth, open wounds, medically compromised patients with circulatory, sensory or cardiac disorders, decrease tone
Temperature range of 96 to 98 degrees F has what sensation and what clinical application
mild warmth, increase mobility in burn patients
Temperature range of 99 to 104 degrees F has what sensation and what clinical application
Hot, control pain
Temperature range of 104 to 110 degrees F has what sensation and what clinical application
increase soft tissue extensibility, chronic conditions, limited body area only
Temperature range of >110 degrees F has what sensation and what clinical application
should not be used
What is a hubbard tank
- Large whirlpool intended for full body immersion.
* Tank equipped with turbines, stretcher & a hoist to raise & lower the stretcher.
what is the hubbard tank used for
Used for wound debridement (i.e. burns covering large areas of body) and for treatment of other painful conditions that affect large areas of the body.
advantages of hubbard tank (2)
- Able to treat large areas or multiple areas of body.
* Can be used for heat transfer, debridement of open wounds or for water exercise.
disadvantages of hubbard tank (4)
- Costly & requires a lot of space
- Uses large amounts of warm water.
- Very time-consuming (filling, emptying & cleaning tank & also to place patient in the tank for treatment)
- Requires extra precaution with regard to possible systemic effects of overheating since large body area is in contact with the agent.
moderate evidence for hydrotherapy exists for (3)
- Delayed muscle soreness/ performance recovery • Perineal/ anal pain
- Dermal wound
strong evidence for hydrotherapy exists for (1)
labor pain
