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Superficial Heating Modalities

Superficial heating modalities can penetrate up to 2 cm and increase skin and subcutaneous tissue temperature. They cause vasodilation and increased blood flow and metabolic rate in heated tissues. Superficial heat alone does not alter connective tissue properties but may provide analgesia when combined with stretch. Common superficial heating agents are hot packs, paraffin wax baths, fluidotherapy and infrared lamps. Mild superficial heating is appropriate for conditions like muscle spasm, limited range of motion, and subacute injuries while following precautions for patients with sensation deficits or vascular diseases. The appropriate choice of heat or cold depends on the healing stage, body area, medical status and patient preference.

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Loganathan Chandrasekar
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162 views19 pages

Superficial Heating Modalities

Superficial heating modalities can penetrate up to 2 cm and increase skin and subcutaneous tissue temperature. They cause vasodilation and increased blood flow and metabolic rate in heated tissues. Superficial heat alone does not alter connective tissue properties but may provide analgesia when combined with stretch. Common superficial heating agents are hot packs, paraffin wax baths, fluidotherapy and infrared lamps. Mild superficial heating is appropriate for conditions like muscle spasm, limited range of motion, and subacute injuries while following precautions for patients with sensation deficits or vascular diseases. The appropriate choice of heat or cold depends on the healing stage, body area, medical status and patient preference.

Uploaded by

Loganathan Chandrasekar
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Superficial Heating Modalities

Superficial vs Deep Heating


Agents
Superficial
 Primarily causes increases in skin temp and
superficial subcutaneous tissue
 Depths of penetration <2 cm
Deep
 Heat deeper tissues
 Depth of penetration 3-5 cm
Biophysical Effects of
Superficial Heat
Magnitude of tissue temperature
changes depends on
 The extent of tissue temp rise
 Therapuetic levels = 104-113 skin temp
 Above or below?
 The rate energy is added to tissue
 Too fast or too slow
 The volume of tissue exposed
 Larger volume more chances for systemic
changes
Physiological Responses to
Tissue Heating
Metabolic Reactions
 2x’s metabolic rate =106o F
 Enzymatic activity increases = 102o F
 >122 = rapid decrease
 Oxygen uptake?
Vascular Effects
 Vasodilation
 Importance of Skin BF during Heating
 Local and reflexive mechanisms
Physiological Responses to
Heating
Vascular cont.
 Axon Reflex
 Cutaneous receptors
 Some afferents go to
SC
 Others go directly to
vessel receptors
Physiological Responses to
Heating
Vascular cont.
 Local Spinal Reflex
 Activated via
cutaneous receptors
 Decreases nerve
activity of smooth
muscle tissue
 Importance of
Skeletal Muscle BF
during Heating
Physiological Responses to
Tissue Heating
Neuromuscular Effects
 Provides analgesia to assist with pain relief
and muscle guarding
 Heat can
 Elevate pain threshold
 Alter nerve conduction velocity
 Change muscle spindle firing rates?
 Temporarily change tension producing
characteristics in muscle
Physiological Responses to
Tissue Heating
Connective Tissue Effects
 Superficial heat alone will NOT alter
viscoelastic properties of tissue
 Heat and stretch together
 Result = plastic elongation of deeper tissue
 Two factors important determining treatment
strategies
 Temperature elevation

 Stretch
Heating Agents
Conductive Heating Agents
Hot packs
 Superficial moist
heat
 Placement
considerations
 Depth of Penetration
 Tx time
 Advantages and
disadvantages
 Precautions
Conductive Heating Agents
Paraffin Wax Bath
Treatment
 Low Melting Point
 Low Specific Heat
 Rationale for Use
 Application Techniques
 Dip and Wrap
 Dip and Immerse
 Tx Time
 Advantage &
Disadvantages
 Precautions
Convective Heating Agents
Fluidotherapy
 Dry heating agent
 Viscosity low
 Provide high heat
fluxes and strong
massaging action
 Heat Control
 Fluidotherapy vs
Paraffin Wax
 Advantages &
Disadvantages
Radiating Heating Agents
Infrared Heat Lamps
 Not commonly used
 Very superficial
 1-10 mm DOP
 Two types
 Luminous
 Non-luminous
 Setup
 Inverse Square Law
 Cosine Law
 Tx Time
Clinical Implications for
Superficial Heat
Trunk, shoulder, hip or knee considered
mild heating
 Mild vs Vigorous
Mild vs Vigorous Heat
Surface Temperature Ranges
and Subjective Feelings
Clinical Implications for
Superficial Heat
Trunk, shoulder, hip or knee considered mild
heating
 Mild vs Vigorous
Pain and Muscle Spasm
Improving ROM
Tissue Healing
 Subacute and Chronic Conditions
 Hematoma resolution
Joint contractures
Contraindications to
Superficial Heating
Poor or reduced sensation
Vascular insufficiency
Vascular Disease
Acute injuries
Malignancy
Application over where liniments have
been applied
Heat vs Cold therapy
Factors to consider
 Stage of healing
 Heat
 Advantages
 Decr pain, incr tissue extensibility, decr stiffness

 Disadvantages
 May incr swelling

 Cold
 Advantages
 Prevent further swelling, decr pain

 Disadvantage
 Incr stiffness, decr tissue extensibility

 Areas of body treated


 Medical status
 Patient preference

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