Week 9 Flashcards
Types of physical agents in THERMAL category and examples
1) Deep heat (ultrasound, laser)
2) Superficial heat (ultrasound, hot packs)
3) Cold (cold packs)
Types of physical agents in MECHANICAL category and examples
1) Traction (self traction)
2) Compression (bandages, tape)
3) Water (hydrotherapy)
4) Sound (ultrasound)
Types of physical agents in ELECTRICAL category and examples
1) Elctromagnetic fields (laser, UV)
2) Electric currents (EMS, TENS, IFC)
Why do we use physical agents?
Reduce pain and inflammation
Reduce extent of tissue damage following injury
Promote tissue healing
Enhance patients ability to complete rehab exercises
Alter muscle tone
When should we not use physical modalities?
Pregnancy
Malignancy
Pacemaker or other implanted electronic device
Impaired sensation
Impaired cognition
What are the benefits of PULSED ultrasound?
Promotes healing
Helps reduce inflammation
mechanical
What are the benefits of CONTINUOUS ultrasound?
Increases circulation – helps with movement
Primarily for muscle, tendon, and ligments
thermal
What do the numbers on ultrasound mean?
Frequency - how deep are you treating?
- Hz – cycles per second
Duty cycle - how long is it on?
- More acute = less time it is on
Size of sound head - Choice determined by body part to be treated
Intensity - how strong is it?
- Acute injury = less strong
Time - how long do you do it for?
–> Depends how big the injury is – bigger area takes more time
Precautions for ultrasound
–> Yellow light
-Acute inflammation (pulsed mode only)
-Epiphyseal plates
-Fractures (can be used as diagnostic)
-Breast implants
-Impaired sensation
-Disorientation and/or confusion
-Pregnancy
Contraindications for ultrasound
–> red light
-Malignancy
-Open wounds
-Pacemaker
-Thrombophlebitis
-Eyes and reproductive organs
-DVT – deep vein thrombosis
-Cancer
Benefits of EMS
1)Get a contraction
2) Get a better (stronger) contraction
3) Help remember how it feels
When use it?
1) After surgery/injury
Very common in knee injuries
2) Neurological disorders (stroke)
3) Performance
Red to the head (black lead goes on the muscle I want to contract, red is closer to head
What do the numbers on EMS mean?
Frequency/PR(pulse rate) - pulses per second
Pulse width - how long is each pulse
On:Off - time
–> Muscle needs a rest
Ramp - how fast to 100%
Treatment time
Precautions with EMS
- Poor sensation
- Poor communication ability
- Electrode over bony prominence
- Poor sensation
- Poor communication ability
- Open wound
- Cardiac disease
Contraindications with EMS
- Pregnancy (across abdomen)
- Pacemaker (current across thorax, shoulder), or other implantable device
- Over known or suspected thrombosis
- Skin conditions eg. Eczema, psoriasis
- Epilepsy