Intro To Modalities Flashcards
Physical Agent Modalities:
1) Thermal
2) Acoustic
3) Electromagnetic
4) Electrical
PT modalities
- Superficial Heat & Cold
- Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC)
- Traction
- Hydrotherapy
Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Indications:
- Traumatic edema
- Stump reduction following limb amputation
- Wound healing
- Prevention of DVT
- Venous stasis ulcers
- Lymphedema
Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Contraidications:
- Acute Pulmonary Edema
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Uncontrolled Hypertension
- Acute or Recent DVTs
- Infection
Intermittent Pneumatic Compression protocols:
- Continuos
- Below patient diastolic
- Time = 15- 30 minutes
Heating Agents
transfer ENERGY TO the body
Cooling Agents
transfer ENERGY AWAY FROM the body
Types of Thermal Agents
- Conduction
- Convection
- Conversion
- Radiation
- Evaporation
Conduction
Direct Contact of two objects that must have 2 different temperatures
ex: Parrafin
Convection
Heat is transferred from the circulating medium to the tissue
*Medium is present
ex: Air Fryer
Conversion
Converts a non- thermal form of energy into heat
*Doesn’t require direct contact & amounts of energy transferred depends on how much power the energy source provides
ex: Ultrasound
Radiation
There is No Medium & No Contact
Direct transfer of enery from a material with a greater pressure
Evaporation
material that absorbs energy & changes it from Liquid to Gas
Heat Indications
- General & Muscle relaxation
- Pain control
- Increase ROM/ Decrease joint stiffness
- Promote healing by increased circulation, oxygen & metabloic rate
Effects of Vigorous heat
- Vasodilation
- Increased oxygen hemoglobin
- Neuromuscular effects: *Increased nerve conduction velocity & firing rate
*Increased pain threshold- gating & decrease muscle spam
Heat Contraidnications
- Acute injury or inflammation
- Recent or potential hemorrhage
- Thrombophlebitis
- Impaired sensations
- Impaired cognition
- Malignancy
- IR irradiation of the eyes
Heat Precautions
- Pregnancy (for some)
- Impaired ciruclation
- Poor thermal regulation
- Edema
- Cardiac Insufficiency
- Metal in the area
- Paraffin over an open wound
- Where topical counterirritants have recently been used
Adverse effects of superficial heat
1) Burns
2) Fainting
3) Bleeding
4) Skin & eye damage from infrared
Methods of application for heat
- Moist Heat
- Electric heating pads
- Whirlpool
- Paraffin
- Infrared
Mild heat
< 40 C or 104F
= overall relaxation, decreased muscle tone
Vigorous heating
40 - 45C or 105- 113F
>45 C = tissue damage
Heat & Exercise
strength decreased for 30 post application
What is decreased by thermal agents?
- Pain
- Muscle Spasm
- Joint Stiffness
Application of Cold
- Ice pack
- Ice massage
- Ice bath
- Flouromethane spray
Cold Indications
- Acute & Sub-acute trauma & inflammation
- Vascontriction
- Pain control: Anesthetic effect, alters nerve conduction velocities & synaptic activity
Cold Therpy Principles
Hemodynamic effects= decreased blood flow
–> Increases blood viscosity results in decreased blood flow
Tissue Cooling
15 C or 59 F = Tissue damage can occur
- 4 & - 10 C (39 to 14F) = Frostbite
Stages of sensation with cold therapy
Stage I = Cold 1-3 mins
Stage II = Burning 3-5 mins
Stage III = Aching 5-7 mins
Stage IV = Numbness 7+ mins
Neuromuscular effects of cold therapy
- Temporary decrease in spasticity
*decreased nerve sensitivity & irritability & may decrease in sensitivity of muscle spindle to stretch
Cold Indications
- Inflammation control
- Edema control
- Pain control
- Modification of Spasticity
- Facilitation of STRENGTH
Cold Contraindications
- Cold hypersensitivity
- Cold Intolerance
- Raynaud’s disease or phenomenon
- Over a regenerating peripheral nerve
Over an area with circulatory compromise or peripheral vascular disease
Cold Precautions
- Open wound
- Hypertension
- Poor sensation or cogntion
- Very young or very old patients
Adverse effects of cold therapy
1) Tissue death
2) Frostbite
3) Nerve Damage
4) Unwanted vasodilation
