Week 1 Flashcards
What are physical agents?
-Energy and material applied to patients to assist in rehabilitation Include: Heat Cold Water Pressure Sound Electromagnetic radiation Electrical currents
Thermal
- Transfer energy to a patient to increase or decrease tissue temp
- Can be superficial or deep
- Decrease inflammation, increase blood flow, effect pain in someway, increase elasticity of tissue, change nerve conduction velocity
- Ex:Hot packs, Cold packs, US, Whirlpool or Diathermy
Mechanical
- Applies force to either increase [break scar tissue, change blood flow or lymph flow] or decrease [compression forces, discs, spine, nerves] pressure on the body
- Ex: Water, Traction, Compression and Sound
Electromagnetic
- Applies energy via electromagnetic radiation or an electrical current
- Examples: UV radiation, infrared, laser, diathermy, and electrical stimulation
History
Long History of Use:
Ancient Romans & Greeks
Electrical torpedo fish, amber
Sunlight
Changes in use…
- Ineffective: IR lamps for wounds – dried out
- Inefficient: Sunlight for Tuberculosis
- Cumbersome: Diathermy
- Excessive risks: Diathermy
Can modalities be used alone?
NO
Eval/Planning for the Use of Physical Agents
- Dr referral as needed
- Medical diagnosis
- Precautions/Contraindications
Documentation
- Agents used
- Area of body treated
- Pt position during treatment
- Intervention duration
- Parameters
- Outcomes including progress towards goals
- Regressions or complications
- Want someone to repeat tx
Precautions
- Restrictions on the use of a particular treatment interventions
- Conditions under which a particular form of treatment should be applied with special care or limitations
Relative
Contraindications
-Restrictions on the use of a particular treatment interventions
Conditions under which a particular treatment should NOT be applied
Absolute
Pregnancy
Contraindications/Precautions
- If the energy produced by the agent may reach the fetus
- -Fetal development
- -Effects unknown
Malignancy Contraindications/Precautions
- If the energy produced may reach the malignancy or alter the circulation
- -Accelerate growth or metastasis of malignant tissue
- -Increase circulation & alter cellular function
Pacemaker or other implanted device Contraindications/Precautions
When energy produced can reach the device and alter the function of theses devices
Impaired Sensation or Mentation Contraindications/Precautions
- End limit is pt’s report of how it “feels”
- If pt can not feel or report sensation accurately application is not safe.
Selection of Physical Agents
- Goals/Effects of Tx
- Contraindications/Precautions
- Evidence for Phy. Agent use
- Cost, convenience, & availability
Quality Research
- Pt/Pop: Question should apply to a specific population
- Intervention: Specific
- Comparison: Control
- Outcome: Defined as precisely as possible
Effects of Physical Agents
- modification of tissue inflammation and helaing
- relief of pain
- modification of muscle tone
- alteration of collagen extensibility and motion restiction
Inflammation and Tissue Repair Goal
Restore function by eliminating the pathological or physical insult, replacing the damaged or destroyed tissue, and promote regeneration of normal tissue structure
Inflammation and Repair Phases
-The body’s first response to tissue damage, characterized by heat, redness, swelling, pain and often loss of function
- Inflammation (1-6 days) -can last up to 2 wks
- Proliferation (3-20 days)-can last 6-8 wks
- Maturation (day 9 and on) -can last up to 2 yrs depending on tissue
What happens in the inflammation phase?
- Vasoconstriction
- Vasodilation
- Clot formation
- Phagocytosis
What happens in the prolifteration phase?
- Epithelialization [epithelial cells start to reform]
- Collagen production
- Wound contracture
- Neovascularization
What happens in the maturation phase?
- collagen synthesis/lysis balance
- collagen fiber organization
5 Cardinal signs of inflammation
- Heat: increased vascularity
- Redness: increased vascularity
- Swelling: blockage of lymphatic drainage
- Pain: physical pressure or chemical irritation or pain-sensitive structures
- Loss of function: pain & swelling
Vascular Response
- Vasoconstriction followed by vasodilation at the capillaries, postcapillary venules & lymphatics
- -Vasodilation mediated by chemical mediators
- Leukocyte Extravasation
- -Movement out of the circulatory system and towards the site of tissue damage or infection
- Accumulation of fluid in the interstitial tissue (outside the vessels) -> edema
Hemostatic Response
- Controls blood loss when vessels are damaged or ruptured.
- Retracts & sealing off of blood vessels
- Platelets form clots and assist in building of fibrin lattice, which serves as wound’s source of tensile strength
Cellular Response
Phagocytosis
Monocytes
Macrophages
Resident Macrophages
Phagocytosis
Neutrophils rid the injury site of bacteria and debris
24 hrs then disintegrate
Monocytes
Predominate for 24-48 hrs
Convert to macrophages when they migrate from capillaries into the tissue spaces
Macrophages
- Most important cell in inflammation
- Produce while range of chemicals
- -Facilitate the removal of necrotic tissue and bacteria
- -Promote cell proliferation
- -Influence the number of fibroblastic repair cells
-Most effective when oxygen is present.
Proliferation (3-20 Days)
-Purpose is to cover the wound and regain some of it’s initial strength.
-Clinical signs:
Granulation tissue is generated which is characterized by red, beefy, shiny tissue with a granular appearance
Wound begins to fill
-At the Cellular level: Cell activity consists of macrophages-stimulated collagen synthesis, capillary formation, wound contraction & wound epithelialization
Epithelialization
The reestablishment of the epidermis
Early with superficial wound
Later with deeper injury
After collagen production and neovascularizatio
Components Involved in Tissue Healing
Fibronectin
Proteoglycans
Elastin
Collagen
Fibronectin
Tensile strength
“Glue” substances together
Proteoglycans
- Secreted by fibroblasts early in tissue repair
- Bind to fibronectin and collagen and help stabilize tissue
- Retain water to assist in hydration
Elastin
Protein that is cross-linked to provide elasticity
Collagen
- Most important protein, provides structural support and tensile strength
- 3 chains of amino acids coiled around each other in a triple helix
- 27 types identified
Collagen Production
-Fibroblasts make collagen
-Fibroblasts migrate to the injured area and fibroplasia (fibroblast growth) occurs
Fibroblast initially produce type III collagen
-Thin, weak, & no consistent organization.
By day 12, immature type III starts to be replaced by type I which is more mature & strong.
-During proliferation the injured area has the greatest amount of collagen, yet it can be as low as 15% normal tensile strength.
Wound Contraction
-Pulls the edges of the injured site together and in effect shrinks the defect
-Begins at day 5 & peaks at 2 weeks
-Myofibroblasts are primary cells responsible
-Speed of contraction:
Linear > Square/rectangular > circular
Neovascularization
- Development of new blood supply or the growth of new vessels = angiogenesis
- Healing cannot occur without it: Supplies oxygen and nutrients to injured/healing tissue
- Forms capillary loops: Gives scar it’s pinkish to bright red hue
- These loops cease as the wound heals leading to more mature scars [Whitish appearance]
Maturation
- Day 9 up to 2 years
- Clinical Signs: Shrinking and thinning of scar and loss of redness
- At the Cellular level: The collagen fibers remodel, mature, and gain tensile strength
Superficial heating agents
- Increase temperature of the skin
- Increase temperature if superficial subcutaneous tissues
Deep heating agents
- Increase temperature of deeper tissues
- Large muscles, periarticular structures
- Approx. 5 cm