Shortwave Diathermy Flashcards
1
Q
Purpose of diathermy capacitative plates
A
- Heat large, deep areas of tissue
- Increase circulation in superficial tissues
- Increase extensibility in deeper tissues
- Increase microvascular perfusion
- Increase local tissue oxygenation
- Increase cell growth and phagocytosis
2
Q
Indications for diathermy capacitative plates
A
- Pain control
- Accelerated tissue healing
- Decrease joint stiffness
- Increase joint range of motion
- Control edema
- Soft tissue, nerve, and bone healing
- Improve osteoarthritis symptoms
3
Q
Diathermy drums set up
A
- Evaluate the patient
- Determine the appropriateness and safety of the treatment
- Select a device
- Prepare the patient by removing metal and clothing in the treatment area
- Clean, dry, and inspect the skin
- Wrap the treatment area
- Position the patient and the device
- Tune the device
- Select the treatment parameters
- Turn the machine on
- Assess the patient at 5 minutes of treatment for any adverse effects
- Provide a way for the patient to reach the clinician during treatment as needed
- Assess outcomes after treatment
4
Q
Patient positioning with diathermy
with each type of applicator
A
- Inductive applicator: place the drum or plate directly over and close to the skin or tissue to be treated
- Capacitive applicator: place the two plates 2-10 cm from the skin and equal distance on either side from the treatment area
- Magnetron applicator: place a few inches from the area to be treated and direct it toward the skin
5
Q
SWD description
A
- offers heat by the conversion of high frequency electromagnetic energy to heat energy in patient tissue
6
Q
SWD parameters
A
- short wave band: 27.12 MHz
- continuous or pulsed
7
Q
types of applicators
A
- inductive coils - SWD/PSWT
- capacitive plates - SWD/PSWT
8
Q
induction field
A
- heat superficial and deep
- strongest where the density of the field is greatest, usually closest to the applicator
- greatest in tissues with highest electrical conductivity: muscule and synovial fluid
9
Q
Capacitive Plates
A
- high frequency alternating electrical currnet flows from one plate to another
- condenser field uses the patient’s tissues as the dielectric between two conducting electrodes
- current causes oscillation of charged particles and increase tissue temperature (heat greates with strength of currnt and tissues with highest conductivity)
10
Q
Thermal - SWD
effect
A
- Vasodilation
- increase rate of nerve conduction
- elevation of pain threshold
- alteration of muscle strength
- acceleration of enzymatic activity
- increased extensibility of soft tissue
- heats superficial and deep tissues
11
Q
Advantages of SWD
A
- SWD may reach deeper tissues versus opposed to radiant or conductive heat
- can be used for larger areas of tissue than US
- rate of heat decay is slower than with continuous US
12
Q
Clinical applications
of SWD
A
- thermal skin test
- pain control
- accleration of tissue healing
- decreased joint stiffness
- increased joint ROM
13
Q
PSWT non thermal
treatment settings
A
- acute condition: <3 watts
- subacute: <5 watts
- chronic: >5 but <12 watts
- 15-20 minutes
14
Q
US targetes what tissue
A
- dense collage based tissue
- ligments
- tendon
- fascia
- joint capsule
- scar tissue
15
Q
pulsed shortwave targtes what type of tissue
A
- wet, ionic, low, impedance tissues
- muscle
- nerve
- areas of edema
- hematomas and effusion
