Traction, Heat, Cold... Flashcards
Define physical agent?
Consist of energy and materials applied to patients to assist in rehab (heat, cold, US…)
What is the difference between Thermal, Mechanical, and Electromagnetic agents?
Thermal- transfer energy to increase or decrease tissue temperature, Mechanical- apply force to increase/decrease pressure in the body, Electromagnetic- apply energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation or electrical current
Physiological effects with cryotherapy?
Decreased circulation, metabolic rate, tissue extensibility and pain
Physiological effects with thermotherapy?
Increase in circulation, metabolic rate, and tissue extensibility. Decrease in pain.
CI of traction?
Movement is contraindicated, acute injury, hypertension, peripheralization of symptoms, and joint instability
Precautions of traction?
Spinal structural disease, severe pain resolved, Disorientation, Displaced annular fragment, Medial disc protrusion, Pregnancy (belt is hazardous), Pt cant tolerate position, and claustraphobia
Define joint distraction
separation of two articular surfaces perpendicular to the plane of articulation–> reducing compression and widens the vertebral foramen
Increased tension of what ligament will reduce disc protrusion, by pushing posteriorly displacing the disc anteriorly?
Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (PLL)
Indications for Spinal traction
- Disc bulge/ Herniation 2. Impingement 3. Joint HYPOmobility 4. Subacute joint inflammation 5. Paraspinal muscle spasm
How will the patient be positioned during traction for a disc bulge/herniation? Impingement?
Bulge- prone
Impingement- supine
During traction, is a patient is in increased flexion what part of the spine is being treated?
Upper lumbar, Lower cervical
During traction, is a patient is in increased extension/ neutral what part of the spine is being treated?
Lower lumbar, Upper Cervical
Traction for paraspinal muscle spasm, what type of traction should be used to interrupt the pain spasm pain cycle –> inhibiting the alpha motor neuron firing (decreasing pain)
Static or Low-load intermittent traction
Traction for paraspinal muscle spasm, what type of traction should be used to reduce protective paraspinal muscles?
High load traction
What are the cervical traction clinical prediction rules?
- Peripheralization w/ C4-C7 mobility test
- (+) should abduction test
- > 54 years old
- (+) ULTTA
- (+) Neck distraction test
What are the lumbar traction prediction rules?
- (+) crossed SLR
- Peripheralization w/ extension
- Age 18-60 w/ pain radiating below buttocks in last 24 hours
- ODI> 19%
- Signs of nerve root compression
What are adverse effects of traction?
Excessive force can increase the pt’s symptoms, with cervical traction pt can experience lumbar pain or radiculopathy
How do you document traction?
- Type of traction 5. Type of halter
- Patient position 6. Treatment duration
- Maximum force 7. Parameters
- Area treated 8. Patient response
Define specific heat
the amount of energy required to raise the temperature (higher the specific heat= more energy to heat up)
Define conduction and give an example
an energy exchange by direct collision between the molecules of 2 materials at a different temperature
Ex: hot pack, paraffin, cold pack, ice)
Define convection and give an example
heat transferred by direct contact between a circulating medium with another material of a different temperature
Ex: whirlpool or blood circulating
Which transfers more heat convection or conduction?
Convection
Define conversion and provide an example
converts a nonthermal form of energy into heat (mechanical, electrical, or chemical)
Ex: Ultrasound
Conversions heat transfer is dependent upon? Does it require direct contact?
The power of the energy source
NO direct contact is required
Define radiation and provide an example
A direct transfer of energy without the need for an intervening medium or contact
Ex: Infrared lamps
Define evaporation and provide an example
energy is absorbed to change a liquid into a gas or vapor (humidity impairs evaporation)
Ex: Vapocoolant or sweat
Cryotherapy nueromuscular effects
Decreased nerve conduction velocity, spasticity, and metabolic rate. INCREASED pain threshold. Facilitation of muscle contraction and altered muscle strength
Indications for Cryotherapy
Inflammation, Edema, Pain, spasticity, MS symptom management
CI for Cryotherapy
Cold intolerance and hypersensitivity, Cryoglobulinemia, Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, Raynaud’s, Regenerating peripheral nerves, and poor circulation
Precautions for Cryotherapy
Hypertension, impaired sensation and mentation, very young/old, superficial branch of a nerve, and open wound
Adverse reactions to cold
Tissue death/ damage (
Describe patient experience with cryotherapy
Intense cold Burning Aching Analgesia- loss of pain Numbness
How do you document for cryotherapy
- Area treated
- Type of cooling agent
- Time
- Patient position
- Patient response
Indications for Thermotherapy
Pain, Decreased ROM/ Joint stiffness, healing, and Psoriasis
Adverse reactions to thermotherapy
Burns, fainting, bleeding, skin or eye damage from IR
Thermotherapy CI
Hemorrhage, Impaired sensation and mentation, thrombophlebitis, malignant tumor
Thermotherapy Precautions
Acute injury, cardiac insufficiency, Edema, Metal, open wound, over topical irritant, Demyelinated nerves, pregnancy, impaired circulation, and poor thermal regulation
How many layers are required for thermotherapy
6-8
What is paraffin heated too
126-134 degrees
Documentation for thermotherapy
- Area treated
- Type of heating agent
- Patient position
- Time
- Patient response
How does diathermy differ from hot packs and ultrasound
Heats deeper and larger areas
What are the three types of diathermy?
Inductive coils- shortwave (20-30 mHz)
Capacitive plates- shortwave
Magnetron- microwave (2-300 Hz)
Describe inductive coils? What type of structures do they treat?
Heating produced by the creation of a magnetic field (wrapped around the extremity)
Used mainly for deep structures but superficial as well
Describe capacitive plates? What type of structures do they treat?
High frequency alternating electrical current flow from one plate to another
Used for Superficial tissue
Describe Magnetron? What type of structures do they treat?
used when only a small area of tissue is involved
Used for superficial tissue
Benefits of using Diathermy?
Heat large areas and deep tissue at the same time
Diathermy CI
Metal, malignancy, Growing epiphysis, eyes, and testes
Diathermy Precautions
Obesity, copper IUD, and Magnetic components in area
What type of waves are used in US
Sound waves >20,000 Hz
Define intensity for US and the units
the power per unit area of the sound head, w/cm^2
Define frequency for US and the units
the number of compression cycles per unit of time (Hz), MHz
Define duty cycle for US and the units
The proportion of the total treatment time that the US is on, % or ratio
Define effective radiating area (ERA)
The area of the transducer from which the US energy radiates–> treatment area should be no bigger than 2x the head
Define Beam nonuniformity ratio (BNR)
The ratio of spatial peak intensity to the spatial average intensity (5:1 or 6:)
Describe parameters for thermal and nonthermal US
Thermal- continuous
Non-thermal- pulse less than .5 (50%)
When you have a frequency of 1 or 3.3 MHz what intensity will be used? Which one is deep?
Thermal: 1 MHz- 1.5-2 w/cm^2
3 MHz- .5- 1 w/cm^2
Non-thermal: .5-1
1=deep, 3=superficial
What are some non-thermal effects with US?
Increase intracellular calcium and skin and cell membrane permeability. Promotes cell function
Adverse effects of US
Burns, blood cell statis, cross contamination/infection