Week 11 (Pressure Therapy, Bandages, Slings n Wraps)

Question 1

Pressure therapy aims to

Answer 1

Empty the lympathics or venous system without increasing the load on the heart or damaging vascular tissue

Question 2

What is pressure therapy useful for

Answer 2

Situations where there is insufficient venous return or lymphatic drainage (i.e. lympthoedema, venous ulcers, prevention of blood clots)

• Can improve venous pump
• Reduce capillary filtration
• Facilitate lymphatic drainage

Question 3

Pressure therapy treatment parameters

Answer 3

Intermittent or continuous pressure
Dosage
- Low: 20-30mmHg
- Moderate: 30-40mmHg (recommended)
- High: 40-50mmHg

Question 4

Treatment goals of bandages

Answer 4

• Reduction in swelling e.g. acute ankle sprain
• Reduction in pain
• Immobilisation or support

Question 5

Purposes of taping/strapping

Answer 5

1. Pain reduction
2. Prevention of injury or re-injury
3. To reduce strain on injured or vulnerable tissue
4. Increase passive stability of anatomical structures
5. Biomechanical effects
6. Muscle inhibition
7. Muscle facilitation
8. Enhancement of proprioception
9. Compression

Question 6

Neuromuscular effects of taping

Answer 6

• Inhibit or facilitate muscle activity
• Alter timing of muscle activation
• Increase joint position sense

Question 7

Psychological effects of taping

Answer 7

• Increases confidence and comfort

Question 8

Fluid movement effect of taping

Answer 8

Applying an elastic tape on skin creates a lifting effect decompressing subcutaneous layers beneath the tape and swelling and increased pressure in those areas compress various blood and sympathetic vessels and stimulates mechanonociceptors

Question 9

Taping can be used for

Answer 9

• Acute injury
• Prevention of injury
• Rehabilitation of injury
• Pain relief
• Any combination of the above

Question 10

Don’t use taping when

Answer 10

• Allergy to materials used
• Active infection or irritation
• ASK if patient is allergic to bandaids to determine allergy possibility