Modalities Ch.1

What are physical agents

heat, cold, water, pressure, sound, electromagnetic

radiation, and electrical currents

What do thermal agents do

transfer energy to a patient to increase or

decrease tissue temperature

Examples of thermal agents

hot packs, ice packs, ultrasound, whirlpools, and diathermy

Cryotherapy

cold application

Thermotherapy

heat application

what is the intention of thermotherapy

increase circulation, metabolic rate, and soft tissue extensibility or to decrease pain

What is the intention of cryotherapy

decrease circulation, metabolic rate, or pain

Does ultrasound have thermal and non thermal effects

True

What is the ultrasound frequency

>20,000 cylces/second

What is ultrasound

mechanical form of energy composed of alternating com-

pression and rarefaction waves

Thermal effects of ultrasound

increased deep- and superficial-tissue temperature, are produced by continuous ultrasound waves of sufficient intensity

What are the nonthermal effects of ultrasound

produced by both continuous and pulsed ultrasound

What is continuous ultrasound used for

heat deep tissues to increase circulation, metabolic rate, and soft tissue extensibility and to decrease pain

What is pulsed ultrasound used for

facilitate tissue healing or to promote transdermal

drug penetration by nonthermal mechanisms

Examples of electromagnetic radiation agents

infrared (IR) radiation, light (via photobiomodulation), UV radiation,

and diathermy

What are electrical currents used for

induce muscle contractions (motor-level electrical stimulation [ES]) and changes

in sensation (sensory-level ES), reduce edema, or accelerate

tissue healing

Examples of mechanical agents

water, traction and compression, and sound

What can the use of water do

provide resistance, hydrostatic pressure, and buoyancy for exercise or can apply pressure to clean wounds

What can the use of traction do

decreases the pressure between structures

What can the use of compression do

increases the pressure on and between structures

What can the use of sound do

ultrasound and shock waves are compression-rarefaction waves

What does immersion in water do

increases pressure around the immersed area; provides buoyancy; and, if there is a difference in temperature between the immersed area and the water, transfers heat to or from that area

What does the movement of water do

produces local pressure that can be used as resistance for exercise when an area is immersed and for cleansing or debriding open wounds

What is the most common use of traction

alleviate pressure on structures, such as nerves or joints, that produce pain or

other sensory changes, or that become inflamed, when compressed

Can traction normalize sensation and prevent or reduce damage or inflammation of compressed structures

True

What is compression used for

counteract fluid pressure and to control or reverse edema

What does the use of physical agents do

reduce tissue inflammation, accelerate tissue healing, relieve pain, modify muscle tone, or alter collagen extensibility

What is the first phase of recovery

Inflammation

What is the second phase of recovery

Proliferation

What is the third phase of recovery

Maturation

How do thermal agents help with inflammation

change the rates of circulation and chemical reactions

How do mechanical agents modify inflammation

control motion and alter fluid flow

How do electromagnetic agents help inflammation

alter cell function (permeability and transport)

Collagen is the main supportive protein of skin, tendon, bone

cartilage, and connective tissue

True

When can tissues that have collagen become shortened

when immobilized in a shortened position or being moved through a limited range

of motion (ROM)

Contraindications

conditions under which a particular treatment should not be applied

Precautions

conditions under which a particular form of treatment

should be applied with special care or limitations

What are the general contraindications for physical agents

pregnancy, malignancy, implanted devices, impaired sensation

When are interventions generally combined

~have similar effects

~address different aspects of a common array of symptoms

~ex:combination of rest, ice, compression, elevation for inflammation

When are physical agents more commonly used

during initial rehab sessions

conduction

energy exchange by direct collision between the molecules of two materials at different temps

physical agent examples that produce conduction

hot, cold, paraffin

convection

contact between a circulating medium w/ another material of a different temp

physical agents that produce convection

whirlpool, fluidotherapy

conversion

converts nonthermal form of energy into heat

what physical agents create conversion

US, diathermy

radiation

a direct transfer of energy w/out need for intervening medium or contact

what physical agent creates radiation

infrared lamp

evaporation

material absorbs energy to evaporate/change from a light to a gas

what physical agent creates evaporation

vapocoolant sprays