Equipments

Heat Therapy

1. It reduces pain.
2. It relieves the stiffness of the joints.
3. It reduces muscle tightness.
4. It increases the blood flow to the area.

Benefits

Heat therapy warms up the tissues and readies for future exercises, Action similar to warming up exercises.

Duration

15-20 minutes depending on condition.

Two types are described

Superficial heat

• Hot fomentation/ hot water bag.
• Paraffin wax bath: It's a mixture of liquid paraffin and petroleum and wax. Mostly used for hands and feet.

Deep Heat

Short wave diathermy: Electromagnetic waves generate heat by tissue resistance to electric current. It heats the deeper layers that are subcutaneous tissue greater than superficial heating techniques.

Ultrasonic Therapy

1. These are sound waves in greater frequencies i.e. 1 to 3 Mhz.

Ultrasonic therapy has 2 effects

Thermal (heat) effect

This is by mechanical vibration. It makes more oxygen available to tissues by increasing blood circulation. Greater circulation also means better removal of waste products and reduction in swelling.

Mechanical effect

This is due to waveform of ultrasound, which causes compression/rarefaction in tissues causing pumping effect and better resolution of swelling. It also helps in reducing stiffness.

Duration

10 mins

Useful for

Inflammation of Elbow Joint (Tennis elbow) ,Plantar fascitis(Heel pain),Shortening of Muscle or Ligament ,Inflammation of tendons(For eg Supraspinatus tendnitis), Ligament sprain(For eg Lateral Ligament sprain of ankle), Unhealed scars.

Interferential Therapy

1. (IFT) uses a mid frequency – current for treatment.
2. It is applied by electrodes attached to stimulator.

Benefits

1. Pain relief by - increasing local blood circulation, by helping release of painkillers in brain.
2. Reduction in swelling by muscle contraction followed by relaxation.
3. Relaxation of tissues.
4. Useful for individuals with Pain, Muscles spasm (pain and tightness), Swelling Muscle strain.

Duration

7 to 15 mins

Electronic Traction

1. There are two varieties cervical (for neck)
2. Lumbar (for lower back)

Benefits

1. Passive stretching of muscle helps in relief from pain and spasm.
2. Helps in improving pliability of muscle.
3. Relieves nerve pain arising from postural or muscular reason.

Duration

15 mins

Useful for

neck/low back pain, nerve pain of postural origin, acute muscle catch.

Tens (Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation)

1. It is applied by electrodes attached to stimulator.
2. The actual painful sites are to be identified then the electrodes are placed.

It helps by

1. Blocking the gate for pain sensation at brain level
2. Causing release of pain killers in brain
3. Increasing blood circulation
4. Giving massaging effect

Duration

10 to 15 mins

Functional Electrical Stimulation

1. These are sound waves in greater frequencies i.e. 1 to 3 Mhz.

Benefits

Electrical stimulation is used to activate and train a muscle, which has lost its action or in training a muscle which has lost or ‘forgotten’ its action after an injury / surgery.

Duration

10 mins

Useful for

Inflammation of Elbow Joint (Tennis elbow) ,Plantar fascitis(Heel pain),Shortening of Muscle or Ligament ,Inflammation of tendons(For eg Supraspinatus tendnitis), Ligament sprain(For eg Lateral Ligament sprain of ankle), Unhealed scars.