Physiotherapy - Passive physiotherapy

Passive physiotherapy

- No active muscle action from the patient

- Reduce joint and muscle stiffness

- Preventative measure

Examples of Passive physiotherapy..

- Local Hypothermia

- Heat Therapy

- Massage techniques:

Stoking, effleurage, petrissage

- Respiratory massage: coupage

- Positional physiotherapy: Postural physiotherapy

- Passive Range of Motion (PROM)

Local hypothermia

- Application of a cold compress to the effected area

- 10-15 mins

Aim of local hypothermia

Used to reduce pain, swelling and oedema

Heat therapy

- Application of warm compress to affected areas

- Number of different applications

Aim of heat therapy

Used to reduce evident bruising, swelling and pain relief from 48-72 hours post trauma

What are the varying pressures applied to during massage?

Tissues

What is one benefit of massage?

Aids relaxation

What are three techniques used in massage?

Effleurage, petrissage, and friction

How should hands be positioned during a massage?

They should mould to body contours

Massage techniques - Stroking

- Used prior to massage

- Stroke in the direction of hair growth

- One hand on patient at all times

Massage techniques - Effleurage

- Movements towards the heart from distal to proximal

- 'warm up' component of massage

Massage technique - Petrissage

- Used on muscular areas

- Number of different methods

- Degree of pressure will depend on the size of the muscle

Conditions that may benefit from massage..

- Swelling and oedema

- Osteoarthritis

- Musculoskeletal injuries

- Recumbent patient

- Following spinal surgery

Contradictions for massage..

- Open wounds

- Skin conditions

- Acute inflammation

- Neoplastic lesions

- Infection

- Pyrexia

- Fracture sites

- Aggressive patients

Respiratory massage - Coupage

Slow rhythmic clapping with cupped hands and loose wrists on the chest wall

Respiratory massage - aim of Coupage

Loosens secretions and allows them to be coughed up

Contradictions to respiratory massage

- Thoracic surgery

- Trauma

- Osteoporosis

- Neoplastic tumour

Postural physiotherapy

- Patients head should be slightly lower than body level

- They are they coughed up by the patient

- Treatment sessions should last 10-15 mins, 3-4 times daily

Contradictions to postural drainage

- Recent trauma to the head or neck

- Pregnancy

- Obesity

- Breathlessness

Passive Range of Motion (PROM)

- Flexion and extension of the joint

- Must not exceed the patient's normal range of motion

- Should not be painful

- Should be following massage or heat therapy

PROM: indications for use

- Joint stiffness

- Joint inflammation

- Osteoarthritis

- Joints with restricted movement

- Patient reluctance to use a limb

- Recumbent patients

PROM: contradictions for use

- Unstable fractures

- Following skin grafts

- Joint luxation e.g. luxating patella