Thermotherapy Flashcards
What forms of heat therapy involve direct contact?
1 hydrocollator packs
2 paraffin bath
What forms of heat therapy involve convection?
1 whirlpool
2 fluidotherapy
What form of heat therapy would involve radiation?
Infrared lamps (transfer of heat from warmer surface to cool though air/vacuum)
How is heat therapy done through conversion?
Heat is generated through another energy form
What forms of heat therapy involve conversion?
1 ultrasound
2 diathermy
What two things makes deep heating difficult?
Subcutaneous fat and skin pain
How does thermotherapy relieve pain?
Counterirritation (pain gating) similar to cryotherapy
How does thermotherapy increase joint mobility?
Decreases joint viscosity and viscoelasticity of muscles, tendons, and ligaments
How psychological effect is possible through heat therapy?
Calming/sedating effect
How does heat therapy reduce muscle spasms?
Decreased gamma motor neuron activity
What effect does heat therapy have on tissue healing?
Enhances it via vasodilation and increased cell metabolism
According to the literature, thermotherapy has been seen to possible be better than what common pain treatment at creating an analgesic effect?
Ibuprofen
What kind of thermotherapy has been shown to be effective for low back pain? For reducing myofascial pain?
Low back pain = long duration low level heat
Myofascial pain = shorter duration moist heat
Various studies have shown what structural change to muscle through thermotherapy?
Increased muscle length
What are the indications for thermotherapy?
1 pain
2 muscle spasm
3 osteoarthritis
4 rheumatoid arthritis
What are the contraindications for heat therapy?
1 areas of impaired heat sensation 2 malignancy 3 thrombophlebitis 4 hemorrhage 5 abdomen, pelvis, low back in pregnancy 6 acute inflammatory conditions 7 confused/unreliable patients
What are the precautions for heat therapy?
1 impaired circulation 2 over wounds 3 severe cardiac insufficiency 4 over superficial metal implants 5 may cause decreased motor skill and reaction time 6 can increase fever
What is the temperature range for hydrocollators?
158-169 degrees F
70-76 degrees C