Superficial Heat

Question 1

Superficial heat affects what kind of blood flow/receptors?

Answer 1

Cutaneous blood flow

Nerve receptors

Question 2

Superficial heat should be used to treat conditions in what stage of healing?

Answer 2

SUBACUTE

Question 3

What are the indications for superficial heat?

Answer 3

soft tissue healing
general relaxation
decrease joint stiffness/pain
skin conditions (ulcers)

Question 4

What is the optimum temperature dosage for superficial heat? (time?)

Answer 4

Between 104-113 degrees F for 5 to 10 minutes

< 104 dgs F: no therapeutic effect (doe not stimulate cell metabolism)

> 113 dgs F: catabolism and cell death

Question 5

What are the hemodynamic effects of superficial heat?

Answer 5

LOCAL VASODIALATION

Depolarizes sympathetic cholinergic nerve fibers through CUTANEOUS thermoreceptors

Release Ach, bradykinin, and nitrous oxide

Question 6

What is the indirect of superficial heat? This is important for what specific population of patients?

Answer 6

vasodilation distal to area of heat application

Important for patients with diabetes

Question 7

What are the neuromuscular effects of superficial heat?

Answer 7

increase in NCV
increase Pain threshold

Decrease firing of Type II gamma/muscle spindle efferents

Increase firing of Type iB fibers (GTO) to decrease muscle spasm and facilitate relaxation

Question 8

What happens to muscle strength and endurance within the first 30 minutes vs 2 hours of heating?

Answer 8

Decrease in muscle strength and endurance for 30 min after heat application

Gradual increase in endurance and strength over next 2 hours

Question 9

Superficial heat should be used with caution in pts with what diseases? Why?

Answer 9

Increases activity of collegenase accelerates destruction of articular cartilage

RA, acute inflammatory diseases

Question 10

How can increase in extensibility be maintained?

Answer 10

Heat prior to stretching

Add functional activities that utilize new length

Question 11

How long should heat packs be applied? How many layers are needed to prevent burns?

Answer 11

20 minutes (check every 5 minutes)

Patient should not lay on hot pack

6-8 layers applied
Cover counts for 2-3 layers

Question 12

What is paraffin made of? What is the temp range?

Answer 12

6-7 parts wax to 1 part mineral oil

126-134 dgs F
Optimal: 125-127 dgs F

Question 13

What is the temp range for a moist hot pack?

Answer 13

158-167 F

Question 14

Paraffin provides how much more heat than water?

Answer 14

6x more heat because paraffin has a low SH

Question 15

What are the three methods of paraffin application?

Answer 15

Continuous immersion/dip immersion: 1 dip for coating, dry, immerse up to 20 min

Dip immersion with wrapping: 6-10 dips, cover with plastic, elevate, wrap in towel for 10-15 min

Painting/brushing w/ wrapping: brush area 6-10x , dry, cover with plastic, wrap in towel for 20min

Question 16

What are contrast baths? What is the procedure?

Answer 16

use alternate immersion hot/cold for 25-30 minutes

End with warm water

6, 3 minute immersions in warm water

6, 1 minute immersions in cold water

Question 17

What are the indications for contrast baths?

Answer 17

Subacute trauma/chronic conditions

inflammatory conditions

hypersensitivity/hyperalgesia

Question 18

Infrared heat is what type of modality?

Answer 18

Electromagnetic

Question 19

What is fluidotherapy? Temp?

Answer 19

Heating of Cellex particles to fluidized state

100-118F

Question 20

What are the contraindications of thermotherapy?

Answer 20

impaired mentation
impaired sensation 
malignancy 
thrombophlebitis 
IR irradiation of eyes 
over abdomen/pelvis/low back of pregnant women

Question 21

Adverse effects of thermotherapy

Answer 21

burns
fainting
bleeding
skin/eye damage from IR

Question 22

What effect does thermotherapy have on spasticity?

Answer 22

No effect