PAMS, Superficial cooling & heating agents Flashcards
What is the difference between convection vs conduction?
Convection: transfer of heat to/from obj by passage of fluid/air over surface
Conduction: direct head gain/loss contact between materials
What are some agents of conduction?
Hot Packs
Paraffin
Chemical Heat Pads
Heating Pads
What are some agents of convection?
Whirlpool
Fluidotherapy
Which is the most efficient between convection and conduction?
Convection
What are the physiological effects of superficial heat?
Increased circulation
Increased metabolism
Increased inflammation
Decreased pain
Decreased muscle spasms
Decreased tissue stiffness
Surface heating 6-8° F
Muscles 3-5° F (depth <2cm)
What are the differences between physiological effects of superficial heat vs. superficial cold?
Cold:
Pain ⇩
Muscle Spasm ⇩
Blood Flow ⇩
Edema ⇩
NCV (nerve conduction velocity) ⇩
Metabolic Rate ⇩
Collagen Extensibility ⇩
Joint Stiffness ⇧
Spasticity ⇩
Heat:
Pain ⇩
Muscle Spasm ⇩
Blood Flow ⇧
Edema ⇧
NCV ⇧
Metabolic Rate ⇧
Collagen Extensibility ⇧
Joint Stiffness ⇩
Spasticity no effect
What are the precautions for both superficial heating & cryotherapy?
- sensory deficits
- impair circulation
- temperature hypersensitivity
What are the contraindications for superficial heating?
- acute inflammation
- decreased/absent sensation
- malignancy
- pregnancy
- decreased circulation
- multiple sclerosis
- impaired cognition of client
- deep vein thrombosis
What are the contraindications for cryotherapy?
- Cold urticaria: cole sensitivity/allergy
- Cryoglobulinemia: abnormal collection of blood proteins that forms gel in response to cold application
- Raynaud’s syndrome: blood flow cut off responding to cold
- Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria: blood in urine in response to cold application
- compromised circulation
- peripheral vascular disease
- history of frostbite
How should you use the moist hot hydrocollator packs (MHPs)?
- 158-167°F
- 6-8 tower layers
What are the advantages & disadvantages of MHPs?
Advantages:
- easy to use
- minimal maintenance
- provide moderate/vigorous heating
- variety of shapes & size
- place body part on sustained stretch during application
Disadvantage:
- poor visualization of skin
- increased weight can accelerate heat transfer
- pt cannot move actively
What is the pt set-up for MHPs?
- positioning & draping
- inspection of treatment area
- removal of jewelry & clothing around treatment area
- PT education
- duration: 20 mins
- visual inspect 5-10 mins
- verbal assess- to ensur burns/pain don’t occur
How is fluidotherapy used?
- Forced convection through air fluid solids
- 102-112°F
- involves massage action to promote sensory stimulation
- Lasts ~20mins
What are the advantages & disadvantages of fluidotherapy?
Advantage:
- free standing use
- even heat distribution
- PROM, AROM & AAROM allowed
Disadvantage:
- distal extremities only
- messy
- expensive
How do you use paraffin wax?
- safest application: dip & wrap for ~15-20min
- 125-130°F
- Low specific heat-
- 8-10 dips→ glove forms, maintain seal, wrap in plastic & towel
