Biophysical Agents USA Q&A

what are heat modalities used for - Answer- Promote relaxation ; Reduce pain ; Increase blood flow ; Facilitate tissue healing; Prepare stiff joints and tight muscles for exercise modality options that increase tissue temp 1-3 cm - Answer- Moist heat packs; Paraffin; Fluidotherapy; Warm whirlpool; Microwaveable gel packs; Air-activated heat wraps; Electric heating pads Modality options that increase tissue temp 1-5 cm - Answer- Continuous-wave ultrasound; Continuous shortwave diathermy (CSWD) what are the types of superficial heat - Answer- Moist Heat Pack (MHP); Paraffin; Fluidotherapy; Infra-red what is thermal conductivity - Answer- Heat flow through tissues varies with the type of tissue. Example: Adipose tissue acts as an insulator because it has a low thermal conductivity Changes in surface tissue temperature depends on - Answer- Intensity of the heat applied; The time of heat exposure; The thermal medium for surface heat (Product of thermal conductivity, density, & specific heat) what are the methods of heat transfer - Answer- CONDUCTION; CONVECTION; RADIATION what is conduction - Answer- occurs when the kinetic motion of atoms & molecules of one object is passed on to another object Direct contact i.e. Paraffin, MHP what is parrafin - Answer- mixture of wax & mineral oil that is melted; Stored in a thermostatically controlled stainless steel or plastic unit in a range between 126 -134 ˚F; Usually a 15 - 20 minute treatment Important considerations: Specific Heat; Paraffin wax has a lower specific heat than water therefore it takes less thermal energy (joules) to raise the temperature of paraffin when compared with water what is the relevance of parrafin - Answer- Less chance of burns w/ paraffin wax treatment Good conduction properties due to higher skin temperatures Wax heats more slowly than water Mineral oil drops the melting point of paraffin so it is molten (liquid) at lower temperatures