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PEA (PRELIMS) > INTRODUCTION TO THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES (BOOK) > Flashcards

INTRODUCTION TO THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES (BOOK) Flashcards

1
Q

What are therapeutic modalities?

A

The administration of thermal, mechanical, electromagnetic, and light energies for specific therapeutic effects such as decreasing pain or improving muscle activation.

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2
Q

What is the difference between therapeutic modalities and physical agents?

A

Therapeutic modalities reflect the ability to provide therapeutic benefits, while physical agents refer to the use of physical energies without including the purpose of their application.

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3
Q

List the types of therapeutic modalities.

A
  • Thermal Modalities (Cold and Heat)
  • Electromagnetic Modalities
  • Mechanical Modalities
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4
Q

What role do therapeutic modalities play in rehabilitation?

A

They complement other elements of the patient care plan, such as therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, and patient education.

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5
Q

What is cryotherapy?

A

The use of cold to induce therapeutic and physiological responses that result from a decrease in tissue temperature.

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6
Q

What are the benefits of thermotherapy?

A
  • Facilitate tissue healing
  • Relax skeletal muscles
  • Decrease pain
  • Promote increased blood flow
  • Prepare joints and tissues for stretching
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7
Q

What does clinical decision-making involve?

A

Using information, experience, and judgments to decide which clinical interventions will most likely improve identified problems.

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8
Q

True or False: The American Physical Therapy Association recommends using the term ‘biophysical agents’ to refer to physical agents and modalities.

A

True

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9
Q

Fill in the blank: The current challenge when using therapeutic modalities is to identify and establish consensus for _______.

A

[optimal doses and treatment procedures]

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10
Q

What is the primary goal when selecting interventions in clinical decision-making?

A

To achieve positive results or outcomes, both quantitative and qualitative.

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11
Q

What is the significance of the APTA Choosing Wisely campaign regarding therapeutic modalities?

A

It states that clinicians should not employ passive physical agents except when necessary to facilitate participation in an active treatment program.

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12
Q

List examples of mechanical modalities.

A
  • Compression
  • Traction
  • Hydrotherapy
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13
Q

What is the therapeutic effect of applying cold?

A

Reduces blood flow and tissue metabolism, decreases bleeding and acute inflammation, and elevates the pain threshold.

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14
Q

What forms can heat be applied in?

A
  • Warm water baths
  • Heat packs
  • Light
  • Sound
  • Electromagnetic energies
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15
Q

What does the term ‘therapeutic modality’ imply?

A

It can imply a type of energy used, a specific range of that energy, or the method of application of that modality.

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16
Q

What is the role of electrical stimulation in rehabilitation?

A

To increase activation and facilitate volitional recruitment of skeletal muscle.

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17
Q

What physiological responses does cryotherapy induce?

A

Reduces blood flow and tissue metabolism, decreases bleeding and acute inflammation, and elevates pain perception threshold.

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18
Q

Fill in the blank: The therapeutic application of _______ provides benefits such as facilitating tissue healing and decreasing muscle spasms.

A

[heat]

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19
Q

True or False: Therapeutic modalities can be used in isolation from other therapeutic interventions.

A

False

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20
Q

What is the purpose of using therapeutic modalities in conjunction with other interventions?

A

To increase the probability that certain clinical outcomes are realized.

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21
Q

What is a common application of cryotherapy?

A

Ice packs or cold gel-filled packs.

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22
Q

What is the effect of therapeutic heat on soft tissues?

A

It promotes relaxation and prepares tissues for mobilization and exercise.

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23
Q

What are the various forms of heat application in rehabilitation?

A

Heat can be applied through:
* Warm water (e.g., baths, whirlpools)
* Heat packs
* Light
* Sound
* Electromagnetic energies

Heat wraps are also available for easy application.

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24
Q

What is the purpose of using therapeutic heat in rehabilitation?

A

To raise tissue temperature in:
* Skin
* Superficial subcutaneous tissues
* Deeper tissues (up to 5 cm)

Factors influencing heat selection include area to treat, tissue depth, patient tolerance, and medical history.

25
Q

What are the general therapeutic benefits of electrotherapy?

A

Electrotherapy provides:
* Strengthening and relaxing skeletal muscle
* Decreasing pain
* Facilitating neuromuscular reeducation
* Augmenting range of motion (ROM)
* Attenuating disuse atrophy
* Promoting tissue and wound healing
* Reducing edema
* Increasing local blood flow
* Delivering medicinal ions transdermally

The benefits depend on electrical current parameters such as amplitude, duration, and frequency.

26
Q

What is TENS and its primary application?

A

TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) is used to decrease perception of pain by activating large afferent nerve fibers.

27
Q

What is the role of NMES in rehabilitation?

A

NMES (Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation) is used to:
* Increase strength
* Improve functional use of skeletal muscle
* Assist in activities like gait retraining

NMES directly increases the number of motor units recruited.

28
Q

What is the principle mechanism behind compression therapy?

A

Compression therapy increases hydrostatic pressure in the interstitial space, reducing fluid accumulation and managing edema.

29
Q

What is the purpose of mechanical traction in rehabilitation?

A

Mechanical traction reduces compression on structures, which can decrease pain, increase ROM, and improve functional ability.

30
Q

What does the gate control theory of pain suggest?

A

The gate control theory posits that stimulation of large A-beta fibers can block pain signals carried by smaller A-delta and C fibers.

31
Q

What are the stages of inflammation and repair?

A

Stages of inflammation and repair include:
* Inflammatory
* Vasoconstriction
* Vasodilation
* Hemostasis/clot formation
* Cell-mediated phagocytosis
* Proliferative
* Epithelialization
* Collagen production
* Closure/contraction
* Revascularization
* Maturation
* Collagen balance: synthesis/lysis
* Collagen remodeling

These stages guide the healing process after tissue damage.

32
Q

What is the primary goal of using therapeutic modalities following an acute injury?

A

To minimize inflammation and promote effective healing.

33
Q

True or False: Cold therapy is commonly used in the initial stages following an acute injury.

A

True

34
Q

Fill in the blank: The application of _______ can help reduce swelling and limit the production of pain-associated chemicals after an injury.

A

cold therapy

35
Q

What is the effect of electrical stimulation on muscle performance?

A

Electrical stimulation can facilitate muscle performance by:
* Increasing muscle activation
* Assisting in functional activities
* Decreasing spasticity
* Preventing muscle atrophy

It can also inhibit muscle activity in cases of hyperactivity.

36
Q

How does the application of therapeutic modalities indirectly influence muscle performance?

A

By decreasing pain, improving blood flow, or altering membrane transport in muscle tissues.

37
Q

Key Point: What is a crucial consideration when selecting therapeutic modalities?

A

Explain the physiological and clinical reasoning for using the selected modality.

38
Q

What are the three stages of inflammation and repair?

A

I. Inflammatory
II. Proliferative
III. Maturation

Each stage has specific physiological events associated with it.

39
Q

What occurs during the inflammatory stage?

A

Vasoconstriction, vasodilation, hemostasis/clot formation, cell-mediated phagocytosis

This stage is crucial for initial tissue response to injury.

40
Q

What are the key physiological events in the proliferative stage?

A

Epithelialization, collagen production, closure/contraction, revascularization

This stage involves the repair and formation of new tissue.

41
Q

What characterizes the maturation stage?

A

Collagen balance: synthesis/lysis, collagen remodeling

This stage may last from several days to years.

42
Q

What is the purpose of cold therapy following an acute injury?

A

Decreases local blood flow and metabolic activity, provides analgesic effect

Cold therapy supports recovery during the inflammatory phase.

43
Q

What role does collagen play in tissue healing?

A

Repairs damaged tissue and is the first stage in the formation of new tissue

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body.

44
Q

What modalities can facilitate the proliferation stage of healing?

A

Superficial heat, ultrasound, diathermy

These modalities promote local blood flow and cellular activity.

45
Q

What is the effect of heating collagen tissue?

A

Facilitates elongation and deformation of collagen fibers

This can result in sustained gains in flexibility.

46
Q

True or False: Therapeutic modalities should be assessed in isolation from other interventions.

A

False

Therapeutic modalities are often used as adjuncts to other therapy components.

47
Q

What are some common outcome measures for assessing therapeutic modalities?

A

Girth, circumference, volumetrics, goniometric measures, strength tests, pain scales

These measures help evaluate the effectiveness of modalities.

48
Q

What defines a contraindication in therapeutic modalities?

A

Specific situations where a modality should not be used due to potential harm

Examples include active deep vein thrombosis and hemorrhagic conditions.

49
Q

What is the difference between contraindications and precautions?

A

Contraindications are conditions that prevent use; precautions are situations where caution is needed

Precautions may allow treatment under certain conditions.

50
Q

Fill in the blank: The presence of _______ in a patient may require special consideration when using therapeutic modalities.

A

[electronic implants]

These devices may interfere with the functioning of therapeutic modalities.

51
Q

What is a common misconception about the efficacy of therapeutic modalities?

A

That they are ineffective when assessed in isolation from other interventions

This perspective overlooks their role as complementary treatments.

52
Q

What factors can influence the effectiveness of therapeutic modalities?

A

Patient individuality, clinical presentation, specific measures of effectiveness

These variables must be considered for accurate assessment.

53
Q

What is considered a contraindication to the use of modalities during pregnancy?

A

Pregnancy is widely considered a contraindication if the energies delivered may reach the low back, abdominal, and pelvic areas.

This is due to the potential and unknown effect on fetal development.

54
Q

What is the primary reason malignancy is a contraindication for modality application?

A

Malignancy in the local area of modality application is a contraindication primarily because therapeutic energy may alter metabolic activity or blood flow around malignant tissue.

These factors could accelerate cell growth, risking the proliferation of malignant cells.

55
Q

True or False: Electrical stimulation has been effectively used to manage cancer-related pain in all stages of cancer.

A

False

Electrical stimulation has generally been used during palliative care in late-stage cancer, and evidence is equivocal.

56
Q

Fill in the blank: Electrical stimulation has been used to manage cancer-related pain primarily during _______.

A

[palliative care]

57
Q

What factors should be avoided in the presence of malignancy when applying therapeutic modalities?

A

Factors associated with accelerated cell growth, such as altering metabolic activity or blood flow.

These factors could proliferate malignant cells.

58
Q

What is the potential risk associated with applying modalities in the presence of malignancy?

A

The risk of proliferating the malignant cells.

This is due to the alteration of metabolic activity or blood flow in or around the malignant tissue.

PEA (PRELIMS) (2 decks)

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