06-18: Fluidotherapy, Whirlpool

Question 1

Fluidotherapy

Answer 1

• Superficial, dry heat

- Simultaneously heat, massage (mechanical), sensory stimulation

Question 2

Equipment for Fluidotherapy

Answer 2

• Container circulates warm air and small cellulose particles

Question 3

Advantages of Fluidotherapy

Answer 3

• Promote tissue healing
• Skin desensitization
• Prevent edema
• Allows for active movement during intervention
• Maintains constant temperature

Question 4

Disadvantages of Fluidotherapy

Answer 4

• Expensive

- May require extremity to be in a gravity dependent position

Question 5

Fluidotherapy - Parameters

Answer 5

• Cover open wounds
• Place body part in fluidotherapy prior to turning machine on
• 110˚-125˚
• Agitation of particles set to pt comfort
• Rx time: 20 min.

Question 6

Types of whirlpools (3)

Answer 6

• Extremity (hand or foot) tank
• Lowboy Tank (full body immersion)
• Hubbard Tank (full body immersion)

Question 7

Therapeutic uses of Hydrotherapy (3)

Answer 7

• Wound care
• Unloading of weight (Waist level 50% WB, Chest level 20% WB)
• Reduction of edema

Question 8

Properties of water (7)

Answer 8

• Buoyancy
• Hydrostatic pressure
• Relative density
• Resistance
• Specific gravity
• Specific heat
• Total drag force

Question 9

Buoyancy

Answer 9

• Archimede’s principle
• Upward force exerted by liquid on the body when immersed in water is equal to the amount o fthe water that has been displaced by the body

Question 10

Hydrostatic pressure

Answer 10

• Water exerts pressure perpendicular to the body and increases in proportion with depth of immersion
• Helps with edema

Question 11

Relative density

Answer 11

• Allows a person with higher amount of body fat to float more easily than a leaner person

Question 12

Resistance

Answer 12

• Water molecules tend to attract each other and provide resistance to movement of the body in the water
• Resistance increases in proportion to speed of motion

Question 13

Specific gravity

Answer 13

• Ratio density of the object to the density of the water

Question 14

Specific heat

Answer 14

• Measure of the ability of a fluid to store heat

- Water can store 4x the heat than air

Question 15

Total drag force

Answer 15

• Hydromechanic force exerted on a person submerged in water that opposes the direction of the body’s motion

Question 16

Therapeutic effects of Hydrotherapy

Answer 16

• Increase blood flow
• Increase core temperature
• Relaxation
• Pain relief
• Vasodilation
• Decrease abnormal tone
• Wound/debridement

Question 17

Indications of hydrotherapy

Answer 17

• Burn care
• Superficial heating/cooling
• Muscle strain
• Edema control
• Arthritis
• Desensitization of residual limb with contrast bath
• Pain management
• Wound care
• Decreased ROM
• Pool therapy/exercise
• Sprain
• Joint stiffness
• Muscle spasm/spasticity

Question 18

Contraindications of hydrotherapy

Answer 18

• PVD
• Unstable BP for full immersion (hubbard tank)
• Gangrene
• Severe infection
• Incontinence
• Advanced cardiovascular or pulmonary disease
• Impaired circulation
• Advanced renal infection
• Diminished sensation

Question 19

Hydrotherapy - Temperature

Answer 19

• Warm WP: 98˚-110˚F (37˚-45˚C) for arm/hand; 98˚-104˚F (37˚-40˚C) for leg
• Cold WP: 50˚-60˚F limb; 65˚-80˚F full body
• Therapeutic Pool: 79˚-98˚ for aquatic therapy

Question 20

Hydrotherapy - Procedure

Answer 20

• Sterile tank
• Fill tank with water
• Select appropriate temp
• Adjust and turn on turbine
• Monitor pt vital signs
• Rx time: 10-30 min
• Exercise can be performed during intervention prn
• Dry off body part as appropriate
• Reapply wound dressings prn