Fluidotherapy

FLUIDOTHERAPY

1. Fluidotherapy Priyanka Goyal MPT 1 st yr

2. Introduction Fluidotherapy is a dry heating agent, that provides mechanical as well as thermal stimuli to produce therapeutic effect. It is a superficial heating modality.

3. TRANSMISSION OF HEAT Fluidotherapy transfers heat by CONVECTION method. Transference of heat to a body by the movement of air, matter, or liquid around the part of body. During heating or cooling by convection the thermal agent is in motion, the kinetic energy of the molecules is increased, they move farther apart and the part becomes less dense.

4.  EQUIPMENT Consists of a cabinet containing fine ground cellulose particles made from corn cob. Heated air is made to be circulated through the particles, so that the particles move like liquid. Allows high heating (higher than water and paraffin ). It utilizes a stream of thermostatically controlled heated air flowing over and through particles by an electric fan inside a lid covered steel cabinet.

5. This air stream creates air pockets and bubbles to provide a powerful massaging action that transmits heat and tactile stimulation to achieve many physiological and therapeutic benefits.

6. KEY EFFECTS DRY HEAT- Increases blood circulation and assists in pain relief . LIMB BUOYANCY- Allows patients to freely perform a variety of resistive exercises with increased mobility and decreased pain. The fluidized particles act like a low viscosity fluid, allowing limbs to be suspended much like in a liquid state . MASSAGING- The action provides warmth, increased local circulation and pain diminishing effect to help increase joint range of motion.

7. APPLICATION The patients part is put inside the cabinet starts to float as if floating inside water and gets heated. As the system has very low viscosity, it allows exercise to be performed inside the cabinet, like exercises performed inside warm water but the part does not get wet . Temperature range = 38 to 45 C. Treatment time = 15 – 20 minutes

8.  PREPARATION The patient should be prepared in the same way like hot pack application, i.e. the part is undressed, jewelry etc. is removed and skin sensation for heat and cold is checked. If there is any open wound on the part to be treated, it should be covered with a plastic sheet. The part to be treated is extended through the portal of the unit and sleeve should be closed to prevent the particles from coming out.

9. Moreover the fluidotherapy unit device is such that it contains additional entry ports to allow the therapist to enter the cabinet and thus passive movements of the distal extremities can be performed inside the device itself . The required temperature is maintained and the patient is told to exercise the part inside the cabinet. After treatment is over the part is removed from the cabinet and the skin is examined. A mild erythema is normal.

10. INDICATIONS Treat distal extremities: Decrease pain Increase range of motion Decrease swelling Decrease spasm Inflammation Post – operative Rehabilitation Sub – acute condition Chronic condition

11. CONTRAINDICATIONS Fever Anesthetic area Severe circulatory disorder Hemorrhage Heat sensitive patient

12. ADVANTAGES Easy to use Most body areas can be treated Allows for some active exercise Provides some dry and comfortable heat Can be used for desensitization treatment

13. Disadvantages Expensive to purchase Some patients don’t like the closed in feeling Some patients are intolerant to the particles present inside May require the limb to be placed in dependent position

14. Researches The effect of fluidotherapy on hand dexterity and activities of daily living in patients with edema on stroke Author - Sang woo Han Journal- journal of physical therapy science 2017 Methodology – 3 week course of fluidotherapy was given Results – using fluidotherapy can reduce edema

15. Is fluidotherapy effective in improving hand function in patients with RA Author – Nihan Erdinc Gunduz Journal – Clinial rehabilitation, 2019 Methodology- group 1 – fluidotherapy was given, group 2- control group, grip strength was measured at week 3 and 12 Results – fluidotherapy was not effective in improving hand function in patients with RA

16. Comparison of distal limb warming with fluidotherapy and warm water immersion for mild hypothermia rewarming . Journal – Wilderness Journal, 2015 Methodology- fluidotherapy applied- 46±1C and water immersion 44±1C Result- warm water [ roduced highest rewarming rte, 6.1 C compared with 2.2 C in fluidotherapy . Fluidotherapy was not as effective as warm water for rewarming mildly hypothermic subjects.

17. Effect of fluidotherapy on superficial radial nerve conduction and skin temperature Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports physical Therapy 2005 Author- Ginoza L Methodology – one group underwent heat and tactile stimulus and other group underwent tactile stimulus alone for 20 min Result- there was decrease in distal sensory latency of the superficial radial sensory nerve action potential with heat and tactile stimulus.

18. Thank you