PAMS Flashcards
Superficial heat
Heating pads, heat packs, paraffin wax, fluidotherapy, infrared
USE FOR: pain, spasm, stiffness, increases extensibility, wound healing
NOT ALLOWED FOR: DVT, cancer, circulation issue, pregnancy
CAUTION WITH: growth plate, metal implant
Fluidotherapy
Heat via convection
- USED FOR: hands/wrists, arthritis, chronic tendinitis, postoperative, post fx, Raynauds
- AVOID: open wounds (superficial heat precautions)
Deep heat
Ultrasound, photophoresis, short wave diathermy
Ultrasound
Penetrates muscles/joints, is thermal & nonthermal, conducting gel is used
(continuous mode = thermal, pulsed mode = nonthermal)
- FOR: spasm, pain, healing, collagen extensibility (can be used with metal implant)
- AVOID: DVT, cancer, pregnant, growth plate, pacemaker
- CAUTION: circulation issue
Contrast baths
Heat & cold modality: warm to cold water immersion
- USE WITH: dec inflammation/edema/swelling, joint sprain & injury, sore muscles, chronic pain, repetitive strain
AVOID: follow superficial heat & cold precautions
Phonophoresis
Use ultrasound to absorb topically-applied medication (hydrocortisone)
- USE TO: decrease inflammation, accelerate tissue repair
- AVOID: follow superficial heat precautions
- CAUTION: allergies
Paraffin baths
Superficial heat, wax & mineral oil
- USE FOR: contracture due to RA, burns, scleroderma, chronic hand arthritis, ROM, wound healing, pain
- USE WITH: pregnant, metal implant
- AVOID: open wound, abrasion, skin infection (superficial heat precautions)
Superficial cold
Cold packs, ice massage, cold baths, vapocoolant spray, cold gel, controlled cold compression units
- USE FOR: pain, inflammation, edema, spasm, decrease muscle guarding
- first choice in acute stage after trauma
- USE WITH: growth plate, metal implant, pacemaker
- AVOID: DVT, cancer, circulation issue
- CAUTION: pregnant
