Heat and Cold Therapy PDF - Gulf Medical University

PT PAP 101, Heat and Cold Therapy November 25, 2024 www.gmu.ac.ae COLLEGE OF ALLIED HEALTH SEIENCES Objectives At the end of this Lecture students should be able to ✓Understand the basic physics principle to the application heat/c...

PT PAP 101, Heat and Cold Therapy November 25, 2024 www.gmu.ac.ae COLLEGE OF ALLIED HEALTH SEIENCES Objectives At the end of this Lecture students should be able to ✓Understand the basic physics principle to the application heat/cold therapy ✓Describe the methods of heat/cold therapy application  Therapeutic Concept Heat and cold are applied to bring about a local or systemic change in body temperature for various therapeutic purposes. Heat causes “vasodilation” Cold causes “vasoconstriction Heat and cold are external form of energy (e.g. heat, cold, light, electricity) applied to the patients to assess in the rehabilitation process. It can be used before, during or after a therapy session, to enhance the effects of other interventions.  Meaurement Thermometry: indirect measurement of Temperature Temperature scales Ÿ Fahrenheit (°F) scale Normal body T (rectal) is about 98.6°F Ÿ Celsius (°C) scale Normal body T (rectal) is about 37°C  Transfer of energy : Conduction : Through contact Convection : Through movement Radiation : Through electromagnetic waves Transfer of energy Conduction Radiation Convection is a direct transfer of energy is a direct transfer of is a transfer of heat between two objects in energy from higher through direct contact physical (direct) contact with temperature to lower between circulating each other. temperature without the medium (air/ water) Ice packs Hot packs need for an intervening and another material of Paraffin medium. No-contact is different temperature. Ultrasound made. Fluidotherapy Shortwave diathermy Whirlpools Microwave Diathermy Laser Infrared & laser Ultraviolet therapy Therapeutic application Heat Agent Transfer of heat to patients body Cooling agent Transfer of heat away from patients body Therapeutic heating modalities (Superficial and Deep) heating agents increase the skin temperature within the therapeutic range of 104°F to 113°F to induce physiological effects for therapeutic benefits. Science-Heat Transfer Heat always moves from a warmer place to a cooler place. Hot objects in a cooler room will cool to room temperature. Cold objects in a warmer room will heat up to room temperature.  Electrical heating: ❑Electric currents through resistive tissues produce joule. Shortwave generates heat by oscillating high-frequency electrical and magnetic fields to move ions, rotate polar molecules, and distort nonpolar molecules in body tissues. Short-wave diathermy: radio frequency, muscle spasm, pain,degenerative joint disease, bursitis, use of electrodes and use of magnetic induction  Electrical heating: Microwave diathermy: Microwaves cause an oscillation of ions in electrolytes and molecules in polarized dielectrics and in this way create heat. The most overheated are tissues containing a lot of water, such as blood and muscles; fat tissue containing little water is only slightly affected. Fractures, sprains and strains, bursitis, injuries to tendons, arthritis. Heat modalities Heating methods depends on Heat conduction: through hot bath, hot pack, electric heating pad, hot paraffin, etc. depends on Contact area Tissue Duration Thermal conductivity [Subcutaneous fat has the lowest thermal conductivity (0.23 W m(-1) K(-1)), while muscle gives the highest values (0.46 W m(-1) K(-1))]. Heat Application 1. Relieve pain 2. Decrease soreness 3. To soften the exudates and tissues 4. Provide warmth 5. Promote healing Contraindications Ischemia. e.g., arterial insufficiency Haemorrhage. there is an increased arterial and capillary blood flow with heat Impaired sensation. e.g., spinal cord injury (SCI) may predispose to burns Inability to communicate or respond to pain. e.g., dementia Malignancy. May increase tumour growth Cryotherapy Use of Cold Pain reduction is thought to occur through the reduction of inflammation and edema, oxidative stress [an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants] in your body that leads to cell damage., and nerve conduction velocity in pain fibers which increases pain threshold (PTH) and pain tolerance (PTO). When cold is applied in an appropriate way on the skin, ice can be used to increase the excitatory bias around the anterior horn cell Techniques of Application of Cryotherapy The way which ice is applied will vary according to the required effects. It may be applied in the following ways: Ice towels Ice packs Immersion (50-59°F) Ice cube massage Excitatory cold ( quick ice) Ice spray Cold gel Contraindications to Ice Treatment: Cardiac Conditions Psychological problems Peripheral Nerve Injuries Vasospastic Disease Peripheral Vascular Disease Cold Sensitivity Thank You