Physical Therapy Modalities and Thermal Agents

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering physical agents, thermal modalities, ultrasound parameters, diathermy, and cryotherapy protocols from clinical lecture notes.

Convection

Transference of heat by the movement of air, matter, or liquid across or past the body (e.g., fluidotherapy, whirlpool).

Radiation

Transfers heat through air from a warmer source to a cooler source (e.g., infrared lamp).

Conversion

The transfer of energy by transforming from one form into another (e.g., ultrasound continuous wave, diathermy).

Evaporation

The change of a substance from a liquid state to a gas state (e.g., vapocoolant spray).

Ultrasound Transducer Crystal

A mineral quartz crystal located inside the ultrasound transducer head that produces acoustic soundwaves.

Phonophoresis

The use of ultrasound to deliver topical medications through the skin, most commonly dexamethasone or hydrocortisone.

Pediatric Ultrasound Contraindication

Application of ultrasound over children's epiphyseal growth plates.

Ultrasound Frequency Parameters

$3\,\text{MHz}$ is a higher frequency used for superficial tissues, whereas $1\,\text{MHz}$ is a lower frequency used for deep tissues.

Ultrasound Duty Cycle Settings

Continuous ($100\%$) for chronic conditions, $50\%$ ($1:1$ ratio) for subacute conditions, and $20\%$ ($1:4$ ratio) for acute conditions.

Ultraviolet (UV) Exposure for MRSA

An exposure time of $30\text{ seconds}$ of UV light to kill MRSA.

Investigational Device

The regulatory status of a medical device before approval, during which the FDA ensures it is safe, effective, appropriately tested, and correctly labeled.

Stages of Ice Massage

The four sequential sensations experienced during cold application: 1. Cold, 2. Burning, 3. Aching, 4. Numbness.

Superficial Heat Penetration Depth

Heat that penetrates fewer than $2\,\text{cm}$ from the surface of the skin.

Hot Pack Toweling Requirement

$6\text{--}8$ layers of toweling placed between the hot pack and the patient's skin.

Diathermy Tissue Conductors

Muscle and skin serve as good conductors, whereas fat and bone serve as poor conductors.

Nonionizing vs. Ionizing Radiation

Nonionizing radiation does not have the capacity to change atoms, whereas ionizing radiation (such as X-rays) can alter atomic structure and requires caution and dose limitations.

Blanching

A physical assessment of vascular circulation indicating capillary refill.

Transverse Friction

A nongliding massage technique performed horizontally or perpendicular to the striations of muscle fibers.

Intermittent Compression Parameters

Treatment duration of $30\text{ min to }4\,\text{hrs}$, with pressures set to $30\text{--}60\,\text{mmHg}$ for upper extremities (UE) and $40\text{--}80\,\text{mmHg}$ for lower extremities (LE).

Diathermy Indications

Pain, muscle guarding, inflammation, soft tissue tightness, and tissue healing.

Diathermy Contraindications

Presence of metal in the treatment field; patients must remove all jewelry because metal will heat up rapidly due to high conductivity.

Superficial Heat Indications

Pain reduction, decreased muscle guarding, pain management, and improved ROM.

Superficial Heat Contraindications

Acute inflammation, fever, malignancies, acute hemorrhage, and DVT or impaired circulation.

Superficial Heat Monitoring Protocol

Administer treatment for $20\,\text{minutes}$, checking the patient's skin every $5\,\text{minutes}$.