Electrotherapy and Physical Agents

What this unit covers

This unit is about physical agents used in physiotherapy: heat and cold, ultrasound, shortwave diathermy, laser and light, and electrical stimulation. The mind maps are the largest group. They include Therapeutic Heat & Cold, Infra red radiation, Shortwave Diathermy, Electrotherapeutic Currents, Premodulated (PreMod) Current and Neuromuscular Stimulation. There are also maps on dry needling, cryotherapy and microcurrent in fracture healing.

Where to start

Begin with the slide set Introduction to Therapeutic Physical Agents. It sets out the definition of physical agents and the learning aims for an introductory electrotherapy topic. Then open the mind map Therapeutic Heat & Cold, which covers temperature regulation, the hypothalamus and the physical mechanisms of heat exchange, such as conduction.

Using quizzes, maps and flashcards together

Read a map first, then test yourself. The quiz Modalities Chapter 1 & 2 Quiz opens with questions on pain and how the body responds to it. The quiz modalities extra questions uses practical scenarios, such as a patient describing what she feels during electrical stimulation. After a quiz, go back to the map for any topic that tripped you up.

Flashcards suit short recall. Use Ultrasound Flashcards for terms like attenuation and intensity, Shortwave Diathermy Flashcards for what diathermy means, and Thermal Agents Flashcards for conduction modalities.

A technique outside the electrical topics

The map Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation is a good change of pace. It covers the 10 basic principles and manual contacts, including the lumbrical grip. It helps if you are moving between modalities and hands-on treatment techniques.

Where this unit sits

This page belongs to the Therapeutic Interventions strand of Physiotherapy and rehabilitation. The resources were made by GoConqr users, so check them against your own course materials. Pick one agent, such as ultrasound, and work through its map, flashcards and quiz in turn.