Electrical Stimulation
This modality uses electrical stimulation to cause a visible muscle contraction.
What is NMES?
This is the primary physiological effect that makes cryotherapy useful for reducing acute swelling.
What is vasoconstriction?
This modality transfers heat primarily through conduction.
What is a hot pack?
This type of ultrasound is typically used when the goal is to produce primarily thermal effects in the tissues.
What is continuous ultrasound?
This mechanical device is commonly used to provide low-level, sustained compression to help manage edema in the extremities.
What is an edema glove?
What is the most common frequency range used for NMES to produce a sustained tetanic muscle contraction?
What is 35–50 Hz?
Before applying cryotherapy, the therapist should assess this sensory function to ensure the patient can safely tolerate the cold.
What is sensation?
Before applying a hot pack or paraffin, this assessment is particularly important because it determines whether the patient can recognize excessive heat and protect the skin.
What is thermal/protective sensation?
For a superficial target tissue, this frequency is generally preferred because it produces greater energy absorption at shallower depths.
What is 3.3 MHz?
Before applying a compression garment or edema glove, the therapist should assess this factor to ensure compression is safe for the patient.
What is circulation/vascular status?
This electrical stimulation modality is primarily used to help manage pain and typically does not aim to produce a muscle contraction.
What is TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)?
When performing ice massage, the therapist should continuously move the ice over the treatment area rather than holding it in one place. What is the typical duration for this technique?
What is 5–10 minutes, or until the area becomes numb?
A patient has an acute inflammatory condition with significant swelling and warmth. You should generally avoid applying superficial heat because it may have this effect.
What is vasodilation?
When the goal of ultrasound treatment is to produce primarily non-thermal effects, such as promoting tissue repair, this mode is typically selected.
What is pulsed ultrasound?
This intervention uses a specialized instrument to apply mechanical pressure and shear forces to soft tissue with the goal of improving tissue mobility and reducing restrictions.
What is Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)?
Before applying electrical stimulation, the therapist should determine whether the patient has this implanted electronic device due to the potential for interference with the device’s function.
What is a pacemaker?
Name three contraindications or precautions for cryotherapy.
What are impaired sensation, impaired circulation, and cold hypersensitivity/intolerance?
What is the typical therapeutic temperature range for a paraffin bath used in occupational therapy?
What is 126–134°F (52–57°C)?
Therapeutic ultrasound should be used with caution or avoided over these structures in children because of the potential risk of affecting bone growth.
What are epiphyseal (growth) plates?
A patient with hand edema is prescribed an edema glove. The therapist should educate the patient to monitor for these signs that the device may be too tight.
What are increased pain, numbness/tingling, discoloration, or impaired circulation?
When using NMES to elicit a strong contraction in a large muscle group, what pulse width commonly used?
What is 300 microseconds (µs)?
During cryotherapy, the skin initially feels cold, followed by these sensations as the tissue temperature continues to decrease.
What are cold, burning, aching, and numbness?
What should be placed around a hot pack before applying it to a patient's skin?
What is a cover or sufficient (5-10) layers of toweling?
When determining the effective treatment area of a therapeutic ultrasound transducer, this term refers to the portion of the sound head that actually produces therapeutic ultrasound energy.
What is ERA (Effective Radiating Area)?
This vascular assessment is performed before certain upper-extremity interventions to evaluate the adequacy of blood flow through the radial and ulnar arteries.
What is the Modified Allen’s Test?