PHYSICAL AGENT.electro therapy equipment

this ppt belongs to all those electrical therapy equipment whic are neccesary for physiotherapy

1. PHYSICAL AGENTS &
ELECTROTHERAPY

2. Objectives
After completion of this lecture the student
will be able to:
How therapeutic modalities should be
used in rehabilitation of various conditions
Provide a rationale for the use of specific
modality
Categorize the indications &
contraindications for using the various
modalities

3. Therapeutic Modalities
Create optimum environment for injury
healing
Reducing pain and discomfort
Many different modalities to choose
from

4. Selection of Specific Treatment
is dependant on:
Injury site, type and severity
Modality indication and
contraindication
Physician prescription
Athlete willingness to accept treatment

5. More is not better
Misuse or overuse of a modality can:
◦Aggravate the condition
◦Delay the person to become functional
Must be administered in accordance
with
Evidence or justification
Documentations of all treatments

6. Electrotherapy
Indication
◦Control pain
◦Exercise muscle tissue to decrease
atrophy
◦Encourage circulation
◦Increase tissue temperature
◦Encourage breakdown of adhesions
◦Reeducate muscles

7. Physical Principles of
Electrotherapy
Electricity is a form of energy that
displays the following factors on
tissue:
◦Magnetic
◦Chemical
◦Mechanical
◦Thermal Effects

8. Electrotherapy Currents
Produce waveforms
Waveforms refer to the shape, direction,
amplitude and duration of electric current
Direct Current
◦Flows in one direction
◦Electrons move from a negative to a positive pole
◦Feel tingling, followed by a feeling of warmth
◦Chemical reactions, increase blood flow, muscle
reeducation, decrease swelling, spasm and pain
Alternating current
◦The flow of electrons reverse in direction once
each cycle

9. Special Considerations for
Electrotherapy
Contraindications
◦Pacemakers
◦Pregnancy
◦When muscle contractions are not wanted
◦Nonunited fractures
◦Areas of active bleeding
◦Near malignancies

10. Electrotherapy Methods
Moist electrode pads are placed on the
skin
Small pad is the active pad which brings
the current to the body
Larger pad
Closer the pads are the shallower and
more isolated the muscle contraction
The farther apart the pads are, the
deeper and more generalized the
contraction
Active exercise can be used at same
time
Ice packs, cold water immersion and
ultrasound can all be combined with
electrotherapy

11. Low frequency current
Faradic current
Sinusoidal current
Galvanic current
constant galvanic current
modified galvanic current
Superimposed currents
Transcutaneous electrical nerve
stimulation (TENS)
Dia-dynamic currents.

12. Direct current (galvanic current)
DC also known as
monophasic,
galvanic,
uni-directional,
constant current
DC can be reversed,interupted and surged
Electric current flow in one direction for
about one second or longer

13. Interupted Direct current
Direct current when cease to flow for less
than one second and allowed to flow after a
pause duration called IDC
Time duration of flow or cease can be from
fraction of second to less than 1 sec.
Time for which current flows called pulse
duration
Time not allow to flow inter pulse duration

14. Types of Modalities
Cryotherapy
◦Ice packs, ice massage, whirlpool,
immersion, sprays
Thermotherapy
◦Moist heat packs, whirlpool, paraffin,
ultrasound, phonophoresis
Contrast
Electrotherapy
◦Iontophoresis
Mechanical
◦Massage, manipulation,mobilization

15. Special Considerations
Indications
◦Acute sprains, strains, contusions,
spasms, inflammation
Contraindications
◦Circulatory disturbances, hypersensitivity,
prolonged application over superficial
nerves
Allergic
◦React with hives, joint pain and swelling

16. Thermotherapy
Used of sub-acute injuries
Used to increase blood flow
Promotes healing in the injured area
Vasodilation occurs to shunt cooler
blood to warmed area
Do not use until active inflammatory
process is over/ no signs of swelling

17. Physical Principles of Heat
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
Conversion

18. Conduction
Occurs when heat is transferred from
a warmer object to a cooler one
Heat should never exceed 116
degrees F
Examples are moist heat packs,
paraffin baths, and electric heating
pads

19. Convection
Refers to the transference of heat
through the movement of fluids or
gases
Factors that influence convection
heating are temperature, speed of
movement and the conductivity of the
part
Example: whirlpool bath

20. Radiation
The process whereby heat energy is
transmitted through empty space
Heat is transferred from one object
through space to another object
Examples: Infrared heating and
ultraviolet therapies

21. Conversion
Refers to the generation of heat from
another energy form such as sound,
electricity and chemical agents
Examples: Ultrasound therapy,
diathermy,

22. Physiological Effects of Heat
Body’s response to heat depends on
◦Type of heat energy, duration, intensity, tissue
type
Decrease muscle spasm
Decrease pain perception
Increased blood flow
Increase metabolic rate
Decreased joint stiffness
Increase range of motion
◦Increasing the extensibility of collagen tissue
Increased general relaxation

23. Iontophoresis
Process which chemical ions are
transported through the intact skin by an
electrical current
Polarity of the electrode used depends
on the polarity of the ion introduced
The most common used medication for
iontophoresis are hydrocortisone and
salicylates
The patient should not experience
discomfort or a burning sensation
Treatment times are 10-20 minutes, once
a day

24. Phases of Rehabilitation
There are three phases
◦Phase 1-Acute
First 48-72 hours
◦Phase 2-Sub-acute
72 hours to about 2 weeks after injury
◦Phase 3-Intermediate
Last up to 6 months

25. FARADIC CURRENT
Faradic current __ un evenly A/C
One phase of high amplitude & short
duration.
Other phase low amplitude and longer
duration.
Pulse duration of 1m/s with frequency of 50
Hz.

26. DIADYNAMIC CURRENT
DDC is a monophasic pulse current with
frequency of 100 Hz
Either full wave rectification, half wave
rectified
Half wave rectification pulses rate of 50 pps
with a 10 m sec inter-pulse interval.
The full wave ratification having 100 pps
leaving no inter-pulse interval.

27. TENS
A TENS stimulation to the painful area using
electrodes attached to the skin.
Some scientists say:
electrical signal
v
nerve sensation stops
v
natural pain relieving substances (endorphins)
v
no pain massages to brain
v
no pain.

28. MEDIUM FREQUENCY
CURRENT
RUSSIAN CURRENT
INTERFERENTIAL CURRENT

29. RUSSIAN CURRENT
Russian current is defined as time
modulated A/C.
A continuous sign wave of 2500 Hz is
modulated to 50 bursts / sec.
Each bursts is a poly-phasic pulse
wave form.
Bursts A/C created when the current
allowed to flow for a few m sec and
not allow for few m sec.

30. INTERFERENTIAL THERAPY
Interferential therapy utilizes two medium
frequency currents which are slightly out
of phase, passed through the tissues
simultaneously, where they are set up so
that their paths cross and in simple terms
they interfere with each other. This
interference gives rise to aninterference
or beat frequencywhich has the
characteristics of a low frequency
stimulation.