Introduction to physical agents (Ch.1)

what are the general contra indications and precautions of physical agents?

1. Pregnancy (only if it affects the fetus) 2. Malignancy 3. Pacemaker 4. impaired sensation and mentation

** use those modalities that increase temperature to: **

1. increase circulation, metabolic rate and soft tissue extensibility 2. decrease pain

what are the effects of physical agents?

1. modify inflammation and healing 2. relieve pain 3. alter collagen extensibility 4. modify muscle tone

physical agents control pain by:

1. modifying pain transmission or perception 2. changing the underlying process causing the sensation

water is a type of mechanical agent that is used to do what?

1. provide resistance to increase local pressure and buoyancy 2. decrease pressure on weight-bearing structures

collagen extensibility is a main supportive protein of?

1. skin 2. tendon 3. bone cartilage 4. connective tissue

T or F: physical agents can alter muscle tone ONLY directly

F: can alter directly or indirectly

T or F: compression can normalize sensation and prevent or decrease damage or inflammation?

F: the correct answer is traction

Name the different types of mechanical physical agents and give an example of each?

Traction (mech. traction), compression (elastic bandage), water (whirlpool) and sound (ultrasound)

with ______: can attract or repel charges particles and alter cell membrane permeability to control formation of edema and promote tissue healing

appropriate direction

with __________: can depolarize nerves to increase muscle strength and control

appropriate intensity and duration

CNS injury can increase or decrease muscle tone in an affected area?

both

what increase pressure between structures?

compression

PNS injury can increase or decrease muscle tone in an affected area?

decrease

** use those modalities that decrease temperature to: **

decrease circulation, metabolic rate and pain

Name the different types of thermal physical agents and give an example of each?

deep- heating (diathermy), superficial heating (hot pack) and cooling agents (ice pack)

in inflammation and healing what agent can alter cell function and transport?

electromagnetic

Name the different types of electromagnetic physical agents and give an example of each?

electromagnetic fields (ultraviolet) and electric currents (TENS)

compression is use to counteract what and control/reserve what?

fluid pressure; edema

what produces greatest temperature increase in superficial tissues in area directly below it?

hot packs

in inflammation and healing what agent can control motion and alter fluid flow?

mechanical

traction is used to alleviate pressure on what?

nerves and joints

you want to apply mechanical force to increase and decrease what on or in the body?

pressure

What kind of physical agent transfer energy to a patient to produce an increase of decrease in tissue temperature

thermal

in inflammation and healing what agent can change the rate of circulation and the rate of chemical reactions?

thermal

What are the 3 categories of physical agents?

thermal, mechanical and electromagnetic

what decreases pressure between structures?

traction

what produces most heat in tissues with high US absorption coefficients (tendon and bone)?

ultrasound