Icy Hot Flashcards
Conduction
transfer from one object to another by direct physical contact
Convection
transfer by movement of air or fluid moving past a body part
Radiation
transfer from one object to another object by transmission of electromagnetic energy
Goals of heat therapy include:
Decrease pain/stiffness
Alleviate muscle spasms
Increase ROM and tissue extensibility
Improve tissue healing by increased blood flow
Heat will cause increased physiological response in all of the following:
-Blood flow
-Capillary permeability
-Elasticity of non-elastic tissue
-Metabolism
-Vasodilation
-Edema
Every ________ degree Celsius causes an increase in tissue temperature = 2-3x the increased cellular oxidation rate
10
Heat physiological can cause changes in muscle tissue, but also can work by:
- Decrease firing of muscle spindles
-Increase GTO fibers
-Gate control theory
What tissue temperature has the greatest temperature change with heat or cold therapy?
Skin
Contraindications to heat therapy include
-Acute inflammation
-Absent sensation/impaired cognitive function (burn risk)
-DVT
-Malignancy
-Tendency toward hemorrhage (blood thinner)
Precautions for heat therapy
-cardiac insufficiency
-edema (can cause edema)
-Decreased sensation/mentation
-Impaired circulation, thermal regulation
-Metal in treatment area
-Open wounds (unless properly covered)
-Demyelinated nerves
T/F patient positioning can be used to increase the therapeutic benefits.
True - ex: if a patient lies on a hot pack it will further insulate heat and pt will feel more warmth.
You noticed the water in the hydrocollator felt a little cool when you went to take out a hot pack. You checked the setting to see someone had turned it all the way down. You are going to adjust the dial back to what range?
165-170ºF
You have determined your patient is a candidate for heat therapy and you decide to use moist hot packs. How many layers must be between your patient and the hot pack to prevent a burn?
6-8 layers
You have just placed a moist hot pack on your patient. Their skin was pink, warm, and dry (normal). You will return to check when?
in 5 minutes and at the end of treatment (10-20m)
Your clinic is cheap and doesn’t want to spend the money on hydrocollator covers. How many towels do you need to ensure you achieve the proper patient protection?
3-4 (a towel folded over = 2 layers.)
Your patient with arthritis comes in stating she has had an increase in stiffness of her hands since winter started. You decide to treat her with a paraffin bath. What do you need to set the temperature to on the bath?
118-130ºF
What method of convection can be used for either heat or cold therapy?
whirlpool
A typical whirlpool is set to _______, except in patients with __________ when it is set to 95-100ºF
103-110ºF, PVD
T/F: fluidotherapy is used for proximal joints that need targeted treatment.
False, distal extremities
What are the goals of cold therapy?
-Decrease pain, inflammation or swelling
-Alleviate muscle spasm
-Reduce spasticity
-MS management
-Cryostretch
Physiological effects of cold therapy include:
-Vasoconstriction/decreased fluid infiltration into IS space.
-Increased pain threshold, firing of GTO, joint stiffness
-Decreased firing of muscle spindle, nerve conduction velocity, cellular metabolism
Your about to put our patient on cold therapy - how would you educate them about normal skin changes in response to cold therapy?
The skin may blanch or turn white in the center of the area where it was in contact with ice. The area around it might display hyperemia which is a red color.
Your patient states they are getting itchy as they are sitting under a cold pack. You look and see erythema of the skin and wheal formation. They have had a:
Histamine reaction
Raynaud’s Disease
vasoconstriction in response to cold or stress (fingers turn white then bluish purple as blood vessels start to relax).
