The Bethlen Home Messenger, 1991-1992 (1-4. szám)
1992-06-01 / 3. szám
®i|ßrapg (dovntv by Jody West, L. P. T. PHYSICAL THERAPY MODALITIES This article will list some of the types of modalities used by physical therapists, the indications for these modalities, and the effect that these modalities have on the patient. Heat is the first type of modality that is most commonly used. Heat can take on the following treatment forms: warm whirlpool, hot packs, paraffin, fluidotherapy, ultrasound, infrared, and diathermy. Some of the indications for heat treatments are: post-acute stage of inflammation, chronic pain, post-acute trauma, decreased range of motion, and muscle spasms. Heat has many effects on skin, muscle, connective tissue, and blood vessels. Heat causes an increase in blood flow through the blood vessels, which in turn causes an increase in oxygen and an increase in metabolism in the affected area. Heat also causes elongation of connective tissue. This increase in blood flow, oxygen, and metabolism in the affected area helps the healing process. The heat treatment helps to decrease inflammation, decrease pain, and increase range of motion. Another type of common modality used by therapists is cryotherapy (cold). Cold can be in the form of cold packs, cold bath/ice immersion, ice massage, and vapocoolant spray. Some of the indications for cryotherapy are: sub-acute stage of inflammation, post traumatic edema, sinus headaches, areas of impaired circulation, and slow healing ulcers. Cold causes the vessels to constrict, which in turn decrease the blood flow, metabolism, and need for oxygen in the affected area. Cold also decreases the elastic property of connective tissue. Cold assists in decreasing pain by decreasing swelling, decreasing the metabolic rate, and decreasing the overall response in the affected area. Some of the other modalities that physical therapists administer are: whirlpools, traction (cervical and lumbar), jobst/intermittent compression, phonophoresis, ionophoresis, and ultraviolet treatments. Help Your hi American Heart Association W Heart and Blood Vessel Diseases Still No. 1 While you read this, another American will die of a peril that plagues this country. It could be cancer. Or an accident. Or AIDS. But chances are it’ll be heart and blood vessel diseases — the nation’s No. 1 killer. Every 34 seconds someone dies of a heart attack, stroke or other forms of cardiovascular disease, according to federal studies. Cardiovascular diseases kill almost 1 million Americans each year. That’s almost half of all U.S. deaths, including cancer (497,000), accidents (95)000) and AIDS (26,000). But you can fight heart and blood vessel diseases. And win. The American Heart Association has fought on the front line to provide over $1 billion for research since 1949. Some of that research has helped scientists to learn more about risk factors for heart disease and stroke. Three of the major risk factors for heart disease can’t be changed. These are: • Age — The older you get, the more likely you are to develop heart disease. • Sex — More men have heart disease and develop it earlier than women, but women narrow the gap after menopause. • Heredity — You’re more likely to develop heart disease if your close blood relatives had it. Race is also a consideration. Blacks have high blood pressure more often than whites. Consequently, African-Americans have a greater risk of heart disease. You can control these major risk factors: • Smoking — It’s the most fireventable cause of death rom heart attack. And it’s never too late to stop smoking. Your risk of heart disease rapidly drops when you quit. • High blood pressure — The cause is unknown in most cases, but you can often control it by eating a healthful diet, exercising regularly and limiting how much sodium you use. Your doctor may also suggest that you take medicine. • High blood cholesterol — The fat-like substance is a normal part of your body’s cells. The higher your blood cholesterol level, the more likely that fats and cholesterol will build up in your artery walls. You can help lower your level by reducing cholesterol, total fat and saturated fatty acids in your diet. You may also need to lose weight and take cholesterol-lowering drugs. Diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity and perhaps stress are also factors that contribute to heart disease. Most of the risk factors for stroke are the same as those for heart disease. Prior stroke and asymptomatic carotid bruit (an abnormal sound heard when a doctor listens to arteries in the neck) are other risk factors for stroke that can’t be changed. And blacks have a much greater risk than whites of disability and death from stroke. Risk factors that you may be able to change include heart disease, high red blood cell count and transient ischemic attacks (TLAs), which occur when blood supply to the brain is blocked temporarily. Remember, somebody died of heart and blood vessel diseases in the last few seconds. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Fight back with education and prevention. ©1992, American Heart Association
