Electrotherapy I Lecture Notes PDF

Course Title: Electrotherapy I Basic Concepts of Electro Physical Modalities By Prof. Dr. Wael S. Shendy Dr. Salah E. Ahmed  ▪ Define therapeutic...

Course Title: Electrotherapy I Basic Concepts of Electro Physical Modalities By Prof. Dr. Wael S. Shendy Dr. Salah E. Ahmed  ▪ Define therapeutic electrophysical agents. Lecture Objectives ▪ List and describe different forms of energy used with therapeutic modalities. ▪ Identify methods of energy transfer. Physical Agents: term describe general types of energy such as electromagnetic radiation or sound. Physical Agents Types: Thermal agents as heating and cooling. Mechanical agents as traction, compression, water, and sound. Electromagnetic agents as electromagnetic field and electrical currents. Physical Agents: fail to include purpose or intention of their application. Therapeutic Physical agents consist of energy and materials applied to patient for rehabilitation purpose providing therapeutic benefits. Most common physical agents used in treating patients are: heat, cold, light, electricity, exercise, and manual. Therapeutic Purpose are to improve or promote: pain relief, wound healing, flexibility and range of motion, muscle strength, muscle endurance, muscle coordination and motor skills, power, and cardiopulmonary endurance. Electro Physical Agents in Physical Therapy The usage of electro physical and biophysical energies in physical therapy for: Evaluative purpose: EMG and NCS. Treatment and prevention of impairement, limited activities, and restrictions. Physical and Biophysical Energies: Thermal Energy. Electromagnetic Energy. Mechanical and Sound Energy. Electrical Energy. Physical and Biophysical Energies: Energy: the work capacity of system in different forms. Energy is transformed from one to another or transferred from location to another (not created or destroyed). Energy Electro Physical Agent Thermal Thermotherapy, Cryotherapy, and Hydrotherapy Electromagnetic Infrared, Ultraviolet, Short wave Diathermy, and Low Level Laser Therapy Mechanical Ultrasound, Shockwave Therapy, Limb Traction and Compression. Electrical Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, Electrical Stimulation for Tissue Healing and Repair, and Iontophoresis  Thermal Energy Transfer of energy to a patient to produce elevation or reduction in tissue temperature. Rate of transferring is proportional to temperature difference (small temperature difference result in slow transferring and large temperature difference result in rapid transferring).  Thermal Energy Thermal energy transferring through conduction using therapeutic conductive modalities providing local or generalized heating or cooling of superficial tissues for management purpose. Thermotherapy: therapeutic modalities used to elevate tissue temperature for therapeutic purpose such as warm Hydrocollator, warm whirlpool packs, and paraffin bath.  Thermal Energy Cryotherapy: therapeutic modalities used to reduce tissue temperature for therapeutic purpose such as ice massage, cold Hydrocollator packs, cold spray, contrast bath, and ice immersion.  Electromagnetic Energy Applies energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation. Energy travels at speed of light (300 million meters / sec) in the form of straight line or a vacuum. photons is the energy carrier composes all electromagnetic radiation. Radiation: process by which electromagnetic radiation travels from its source outwards through spaces. Sunlight is a visible type of radiation energy.  Electromagnetic Energy All Photons travels at same speed, so the differs by their wave properties ( wave length, frequency, and amount of energy carried by each photon). Wave length: is the distance from one point in propagating wave to the same point in the next wave. Frequency: number of cycles or pulses per sec. Speed = wave length Χ frequency  Electromagnetic Energy photons with longer wave length have lower frequency and lower energy and those with smaller wave length have higher frequency and higher energy. Speed = wave length Χ frequency. Variation of the frequency and intensity of electromagnetic radiation changes its effect and penetration depth. Types of electromagnetic agents include ultraviolet (UV), infrared (IR), LASER, and Diathermy.  Electromagnetic Spectrum Beam of light shone through prism, the electromagnetic radiation in visible light refracted and appear in band of color called spectrum.  Electromagnetic Spectrum Spectrum: is the range of visible light colors. Refraction: is the change of direction of a wave or radiation wave when it passes from one medium or type of tissue to another. Infrared radiation: is the portion of electromagnetic spectrum associated with thermal changes located adjacent to red portion of the visible light spectrum. Ultraviolet radiation: is the portion of electromagnetic spectrum associated with chemical changes located adjacent to violet portion of the visible light spectrum.  Electromagnetic Spectrum When electromagnetic contact human Tissues, they may be reflected, refracted, or absorbed with the energy that transmitted through the tissue must be absorbed before any physiological Changes can take place.  Electromagnetic Spectrum The smaller the angle between propagating ray and right angle, the less radiation reflected and the greater absorbed. Optimal radiation occurs when the source of radiation at right angle to the center of the area to be radiated (Cosine Law). The intensity of radiation stricking particular Surface varies inversely with the square of the distance from radiating surface (Inverse Square Law).  Electromagnetic wave production Heating objects such as thin filaments (composed of atoms, which in turn composed of +ve charged neuclei surrounded by –ve charged electrons) at very high temperature, and as temperature increased, causing rapid vibration of these subatomic particles (variability of energy), finally this movement produce electromagnetic waves.  Mechanical Energy Apply force to increase or decrease pressure on body parts including water, traction, compression, and sound. Water apply resistance, hydrostatic pressure, and buoyancy for exercise or pressure for wound cleaning. Traction decreases pressure between structures. Compression increases pressure on and between structures. Ultrasound is a mechanical form of energy composed of alternating waves of compression and rarefaction.  Electrical Energy Electrical energy associated with flow of electron or other charged particles through an electric field (wire). Electron particles having –ve electrical charge and revolve around the core or neuclus of an atom. As electrical stimulating currents.  Energy Transfer Energy move from area of high concentration to are of low concentration by what is called energy carrier (electron, photon, and molecule) via conduction, convection, conversion, radiation, and evaporation.  Conduction Transfer of heat energy by direct contact from material with higher temperature to material with lower temperature until both temperatures are equal. As in using hot packs.  Convection Transfer of heat energy by mass motion of fluids such as air or water (move across body) in which heated fluid move away from source of heating carrying energy with it. More rapid than conduction. As Whirl pool.  Conversion The process of changing energy from one form to another. Heat transfer through the conversion of non-thermal form of energy (mechanical, chemical, electrical) into heat. Doesn't require direct contact. As ultrasound.  Radiation Objects emit radiation when high energy electrons in a higher energy lost is emitted as light or electromagnetic radiation. Direct transfer of heat from material with higher temperature to material with lower temperature without need of conducting medium. As infrared lamb.  Evaporation The change of liquid to a gas or vapor as it absorb heat. As liquid absorb heat, the skin cools. As infrared lamb.  True and False Questions A for True and B for False 1-wave length is defined as the number of cycles per second ( ). 2-to achieve deeper penetration, wave length must be increased ( ).  Multiple Choice Questions 1-according to cosine law, to minimize reflection and maximize absorption, the energy source must be at……..angle to the surface. A-45⁰. B-90⁰. C-180⁰. D-0⁰.  Multiple Choice Questions 2-transfer of heat through direct contact with its source is…….. A-convection. B-conduction. C-electrical. D- radiation. Thank you