Fluidotherapy

Fluidotherapy - It's not a fluid therapy but feels just like one!!!

1. FLUIDOTHERAPY Prepared by : Florence Macwan

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 or past the 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. Consequently the part rises and the above dense part descends to take its place.

4. EQUIPMENT Consists of a cabinet containing finely 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. UNIT CONTROLS

7. KEY EFFECTS

8. APPLICATION The patients part if 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

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

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

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

15. 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

16. LATEST MODELS

17. REFERENCE Electrotherapy Simplified, 2nd Edition by Basant Kumar Nanda