Introduction to Therapeutic Physical Agents

Slide 1

• INTRODUCTION TO THERAPEUTIC PHYSICAL AGENTS
• DIPLOMA IN PHYSIOTHERAPY
• ELECTROTHERAPY I
• 

Slide 2

• AT THE END OF THIS TOPIC, STUDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO:
• Describe the DEFINITION of physical agents.
• Understand the GENERAL EFFECTS of physical agents.
• Describe the BASIC USES of physical agents.

Definition

• Therapeutic Physical Agent:
• A form of acoustic, aqueous, electrical, mechanical, thermal, or light energy applied to living tissues in a systematic manner to alter physiologic processes, in conjunction with or for therapeutic purposes.
• Modalities:
• a method of application of, or the employment of, any therapeutic agent; limited usually to physical agents
• 

To Whom?

• GENERAL CONDITION
• alert
• conscious
• responsive
• INDICATION
• pain
• swelling
• CONTRAINDICATION*
• PRECAUTIONS*
• RISKS*
• 

Locations

• on site of pain
• on site of causes
• joints
• bones
• muscles
• 

When?

• Acute
• severe and sudden in onset
• short duration, rapidly progressive, and in need of urgent care
• Subacute
• longer duration
• less rapid change
• Chronic
• long-developing syndrome
• indefinite duration or virtually no change
• 

Indications

• PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
• WOUND HEALING
• PAIN MANAGEMENT
• THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS
• MUSCLE STRENGTHENING
• MUSCLE RELAXATION
• MUSCLE STRETCHING
• JOINT MOBILIZATION
• 

How?

• PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS*
• NEUROMUSCULAR EFFECTS
• HEMODYNAMICS EFFECTS
• METABOLIC EFFECTS
• THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS*
• MUSCLE
• 

Slide 9

• 48: Vasodilation or Vasoconstriction (Embed)

What are the examples of Physical Agents?

• Superficial Heating Agents
• Hot Pack
• Paraffin Wax
• Superficial Cooling Agents
• Ice Pack
• Cryocuff
• Fluidotherapy
• Contrast Therapy
• 

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