Short Wave Diathermy PDF

SHORT WAVE DR HANAA SAMIR SHORT WAVE DIATHERMY Shortwave diathermy is a therapeutic modality that uses high-frequency alternating currents to generate heat in the body's tissues. It is commonly used to produce deep heating in joints and soft tissues with frequency of 27.12...

SHORT WAVE DR HANAA SAMIR SHORT WAVE DIATHERMY Shortwave diathermy is a therapeutic modality that uses high-frequency alternating currents to generate heat in the body's tissues. It is commonly used to produce deep heating in joints and soft tissues with frequency of 27.12 MHz Physiological effect of shortwave: The primary effects Secondary physiological effect (thermal effect) (non-thermal) Increase circulation Increase blood flow Remove waste products Decrease pain Decrease tissue stiffness and muscle spasm Heat production Indications of shortwave: Reduces pain and inflammation, Improves range of motion, Reduces muscle spasm and stiffness. Promote healing in the affected area. Contraindications of shortwave: Patients who are taking blood- thinning medications, Severe cardiac abnormality Cancer, Blood pressure abnormality Severe/excessive edema Anesthetic area Metallic implant Tuberculosis Cardiac pacemaker Reproductive organ. Over wet dressing Infected open wound Impaired thermal sensation Recent radiotherapy Pregnancy Modes of shortwave diathermy: CONTINUO PULS US ED Fields of shortwave: Capacitive Method Inductive Method Electrical field more than Magnetic field more than magnetic field electrical field Air space electrode- flexible Drums ( diplode- monode), pad coil, sleeve Reduce inflammation Tissue healing Decrease pain Increase tissue temperature Danger of Short Wave Diathermy: Burn: Causes of burn: The concentration of the electric field Use of excess current Hypersensitivity of the skin Impaired blood flow Leads touching the skin Overdose: This causes an increase in the symptoms, pain, and acute inflammation within a confined space. At that time reduce the intensity of subsequent applications.  Precipitation of gangrene: Heat accelerates chemical changes including metabolic processes in the tissues. So increasing the demand for oxygen and gangrene is developing. Heat should never be applied directly to an area with an impaired arterial blood supply. Electric Shock: It can occur if contact is made with the apparatus circuit with the current switched on. But modern apparatus is usually not possible.  Techniques of application of capacitive field: Co- planner technique: coplanar is the most effective in increasing skin temperature; coplanar arrangement has the slowest temperature decay. In co-planner technique make sure that the electrodes is positioned on adequate distance The closer the metal plates (electrodes) are to the skin, the greater the heat sensation at the surface. As the plate-to-skin distance increases, heat perception decreases. Adjustment of plate-to-skin distance allows for variation in the amount of heating of body tissues. The closer the pads the more superficial heat produced. The capacitive plates should always be positioned so the distance between any parts of the two plates is at least as great as the plate’s diameter. Capacitive plates should not be placed over areas of thick subcutaneous fat because fat tissue may be heated considerably more than muscle when both tissues are exposed to the capacitive SWD electric field.  Contra- planner technique: transverse application Longitudinal application Cross fire technique Electrodes size and position: A general rule the electrode should be rather larger than the structure that is being treated. The electric field tends to spread, particularly at the edges, resulting in a lower density of field in the deep part of field than in the superficial tissue. If the electrodes are large, the outer part of the field where the spread is greatest is deliberately not utilized; The structure to be heated lies in more even central part of the field. ex. treatment of the trunk electrode should be as larger as possible, while for a limb that should be rather larger than the diameter of the limb.  If part of limb between the Electrodes is smaller in diameter than the Electrodes = the lines of force bend in towards the limb If the diameter of the Electrodes is smaller than that of the limb = the lines of force spread in the tissues, causing more heating of the superficial than the deep structures. If the diameter of the Electrodes is far large than that of the limb = some of the lines of force by -pass it completely, so electrical energy is wasted though a satisfactory heating effect may be obtained. If one Electrode is placed nearer to the skin than the other Electrode, there is a greater heating effect under the closer Electrode than the further one. If possible Electrodes placed over even surface of the body. Irregular surface = field tends to concentrate on more prominent part Regular surface = reduced the concentration by using the wide spacing