Week 1 Vocab Flashcards
Physical agents
reflects the use of physical energies—such as thermal, mechanical, electromagnetic, or light—but fails to include the purpose or intention of their application.
Therapeutic modalities
represent the administration of thermal, mechanical, electromagnetic, acoustic, and light energies to produce biophysical effects at the cellular, tissue, organic, and whole-body levels.
***Note: The terms therapeutic modalities and physical agents are often used interchangeably to describe a wide array of interventions that provide a variety of therapeutic benefits.
Biophysical agents
Alternate term for Therapeutic Modality
Cryotherapy
the use of cold to induce the therapeutic and physiological responses that result from a decrease in tissue temperature
Thermotherapy
the therapeutic application of heat
Therapeutic ultrasound
any type of ultrasonic procedure that uses ultrasound for therapeutic benefit
Electrotherapy
Broad term for electromagnetic modalities such as TENS, that can be used for an equally wide variety of needs. General therapeutic benefits of electrotherapy may include strengthening or relaxing skeletal muscle, decreasing pain, facilitating neuromuscular re-education, augmenting ROM, attenuating disuse atrophy, promoting tissue and wound healing, reducing edema, increasing local blood flow, and delivering medicinal ions transdermally.
Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS)
The use of electric current produced by a device to stimulate sensory nerves for therapeutic purposes.
Interferential Current or IFC
a medium frequency alternating current therapy that reportedly reduces skin impedance and can reach deeper tissues
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation, or NMES
Activation of skeletal muscle with electrotherapy used for increasing strength
Functional electrical stimulation, or FES
Activation of skeletal muscle with electrotherapy for restoring or improving use of skeletal muscle during functional activities such as walking.
Iontophoresis
the use of electrical current to facilitate the delivery of specific drugs and ions to reduce tissue inflammation, decrease local pain, reduce calcium deposits, and reduce scar restrictions
Electromagnetic radiation
a kind of radiation, in which electric and magnetic fields vary simultaneously which is used for a variety of therapeutic benefits, both thermal and nonthermal. Classified according to the specific frequency of the electromagnetic wave, therapeutic electromagnetic radiation includes SWD, infrared radiation (IR), and ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) radiation.
Compression
Compressive force, may be used for therapeutic benefit during rehabilitation. Compressive force may come from application of wraps, stockings, or garments. It may also come from compression pumps and even from water via the hydrostatic pressure created when a body part is submerged in water.
Traction
is the application of distractive forces, can be manual (therapist) or mechanical (machine or external device) to lessen or reduce compression on a structure and is most commonly associated with spinal traction.
Blood Flow Restriction Training
an expanding rehabilitation modality that uses a tourniquet to reduce arterial inflow and occlude venous outflow in the setting of resistance training or exercise
Trigger point dry needling
Involves inserting a dry needle (no substance is injected) into the dermal, fascial, and muscle tissues. It is a treatment that healthcare providers use for pain and movement issues.
High-Volt Pulsed Current (HVPC)
is direct current (DC) characterized by a high-peak intensity and short pulse duration (shown at a frequency of 100 Hz). This modality is most often used for edema control and wound healing but can also be used for muscle recruitment.
Assistive Personnel
refers to personnel that assists the physical therapist in the delivery of care. This may be a physical therapist assistant, a PT aide or technician or other personnel.
Precaution
when the drug or procedure should be used or performed cautiously
Relative contraindication
are contraindications for circumstances in which the patient is at higher risk of complications from treatment, but these risks may be outweighed by other considerations or mitigated by other measures
Absolute contraindication
are contraindications for which there are no reasonable circumstances for undertaking a course of action
Nociceptor
specialized receptors that send danger signals to the brain
Noxious stimulus
a stimulus that is damaging or threatens damage to normal tissues
Innocuous stimulus
a stimulus that is non-threatening to normal tissues such as light touch
Hyperalgesia
Increased pain from a stimulus that normally provokes pain
Allodynia
Pain due to a stimulus that does not normally provoke pain, such as light touch
