MA100 STUDY OUTLINE #2 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
What are the examples of dry and moist heat and cold applications? - Answers - 1. Dry
heat: heating pad, chemical hot pack
2. Moist heat: hot soak, hot compress
3. Dry cold: ice bag, chemical cold pack
4. Moist cold: cold compress
What are the factors that may cause unfavorable reactions? - Answers - 1. The age of
the patient.
2. Location of the application.
3. Impaired circulation.
4. Impaired sensation.
5. Individual tolerance to change in temperature.
What does local heat application cause? - Answers - produces dilation, or an increase
in diameter, of the blood vessels in the area as the body tries to rid itself of excess heat.
Why would heat application be used? - Answers - relieving pain, congestion, muscle
spasms, and inflammation.
How should a patient be instructed to use a heating pad? - Answers - the wires must not
be bent or crushed, Pins must not be inserted into the pad as a means of securing it,
heating pads should not be used over areas that contain moisture, such as wet
dressings.
What does local cold application cause? - Answers - constriction, or a decrease in
diameter, of blood vessels in the area as the body attempts to prevent heat loss
Why would cold applications be used? - Answers - Bruises, minor burns, sprain, strain ,
joints injury, or fracture
How should a patient be instructed to activate a chemical cold pack? - Answers - Shake
the crystals to the bottom of the bag,
squeeze the back firmly with your hands to break their inner water bag
shake the bag vigorously to mix. The content
, applied back to the affected area
Jcheck the skin periodically
administrate the treatment for the proper length of time,
discard the bag and appropriate receptacle
sanitize your hands.
How should these be stored? - Answers - should be stored at room temperature.
What is a cast and why are they most often used? - Answers - is a stiff cylindrical casing
that is used to immobilize a body part until healing occurs.
How should the cast fit? - Answers - snugly but still allows adequate circulation
necessary for proper healing.
How long is it usually kept on for? - Answers - 4 to 6 weeks are usually required for the
complete healing of a fracture.
What are the guidelines to relay to patients for proper cast care? - Answers - • Allow the
cast to dry before putting any pressure or weight on the cast. Synthetic casts can bear
weight approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour after application.
• Elevate the cast above heart level for the first 24 to 48 hours to decrease swelling and
pain. This can be accomplished by propping the casted extremity on pillows or some
other type of support.
• Gently move the toes or fingers frequently to prevent swelling and joint stiffness and to
increase circulation.
• Apply ice to the casted extremity to reduce swelling. Place small pieces of ice in an ice
bag, and loosely wrap it around the cast at the level of the injury.
• Take precautions to prevent dirt, sand, powder, and other foreign particles from
becoming trapped under the cast. They can cause irritation to the skin, leading to
infection.
• Do not apply powder for itching under the cast. Do not use any object to scratch the
skin under the cast. Inserting anything under the cast, such as a pencil, coat hanger, or
knitting needle, may cause a break in the skin, which could become infected. In
addition, the object may become lost in the cast.
• Do not engage in activities that could cause injury because of impairment of your
physical abilities (e.g., driving a car).
• Keep the cast dry. When taking a bath or shower, cover the cast with a plastic bag and
secure the bag to the skin with waterproof tape. If possible, hang the casted limb over
the side of the tub or outside of the shower. Although the material making up a synthetic
cast is moisture resistant, the cast padding is not. If a synthetic cast becomes wet, it
must be dried as soon as possible to prevent maceration. Maceration is the softening
and breaking down of the skin, which can lead to infection.
ANSWERS
What are the examples of dry and moist heat and cold applications? - Answers - 1. Dry
heat: heating pad, chemical hot pack
2. Moist heat: hot soak, hot compress
3. Dry cold: ice bag, chemical cold pack
4. Moist cold: cold compress
What are the factors that may cause unfavorable reactions? - Answers - 1. The age of
the patient.
2. Location of the application.
3. Impaired circulation.
4. Impaired sensation.
5. Individual tolerance to change in temperature.
What does local heat application cause? - Answers - produces dilation, or an increase
in diameter, of the blood vessels in the area as the body tries to rid itself of excess heat.
Why would heat application be used? - Answers - relieving pain, congestion, muscle
spasms, and inflammation.
How should a patient be instructed to use a heating pad? - Answers - the wires must not
be bent or crushed, Pins must not be inserted into the pad as a means of securing it,
heating pads should not be used over areas that contain moisture, such as wet
dressings.
What does local cold application cause? - Answers - constriction, or a decrease in
diameter, of blood vessels in the area as the body attempts to prevent heat loss
Why would cold applications be used? - Answers - Bruises, minor burns, sprain, strain ,
joints injury, or fracture
How should a patient be instructed to activate a chemical cold pack? - Answers - Shake
the crystals to the bottom of the bag,
squeeze the back firmly with your hands to break their inner water bag
shake the bag vigorously to mix. The content
, applied back to the affected area
Jcheck the skin periodically
administrate the treatment for the proper length of time,
discard the bag and appropriate receptacle
sanitize your hands.
How should these be stored? - Answers - should be stored at room temperature.
What is a cast and why are they most often used? - Answers - is a stiff cylindrical casing
that is used to immobilize a body part until healing occurs.
How should the cast fit? - Answers - snugly but still allows adequate circulation
necessary for proper healing.
How long is it usually kept on for? - Answers - 4 to 6 weeks are usually required for the
complete healing of a fracture.
What are the guidelines to relay to patients for proper cast care? - Answers - • Allow the
cast to dry before putting any pressure or weight on the cast. Synthetic casts can bear
weight approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour after application.
• Elevate the cast above heart level for the first 24 to 48 hours to decrease swelling and
pain. This can be accomplished by propping the casted extremity on pillows or some
other type of support.
• Gently move the toes or fingers frequently to prevent swelling and joint stiffness and to
increase circulation.
• Apply ice to the casted extremity to reduce swelling. Place small pieces of ice in an ice
bag, and loosely wrap it around the cast at the level of the injury.
• Take precautions to prevent dirt, sand, powder, and other foreign particles from
becoming trapped under the cast. They can cause irritation to the skin, leading to
infection.
• Do not apply powder for itching under the cast. Do not use any object to scratch the
skin under the cast. Inserting anything under the cast, such as a pencil, coat hanger, or
knitting needle, may cause a break in the skin, which could become infected. In
addition, the object may become lost in the cast.
• Do not engage in activities that could cause injury because of impairment of your
physical abilities (e.g., driving a car).
• Keep the cast dry. When taking a bath or shower, cover the cast with a plastic bag and
secure the bag to the skin with waterproof tape. If possible, hang the casted limb over
the side of the tub or outside of the shower. Although the material making up a synthetic
cast is moisture resistant, the cast padding is not. If a synthetic cast becomes wet, it
must be dried as soon as possible to prevent maceration. Maceration is the softening
and breaking down of the skin, which can lead to infection.
