Modes of Heat transfer & Biophysics
Heat transfer that requires direct physical contact between two materials at different temperatures.
What is Conduction?
During the first 15 to 20 minutes of cold application, smooth muscle contraction in vessel walls causes this exact percentage reduction in local blood flow.
What is 40%?
To effectively increase soft tissue and collagen extensibility before stretching, target tissue must reach this temperature range.
What is 104°F to 113°F?
The standard therapeutic operating temperature range for a Paraffin Wax Bath.
What is 113°F to 122°F?
A patient arrives 24 hours post-ankle sprain with acute edema and heat. Thermotherapy is contraindicated during this stage of tissue healing lasting 1 to 6 days.
What is the Inflammatory Stage?
Heat transfer occuring through direct contact between the skin and a moving or circulating medium like air or water.
What is Convection?
Applying cold continuously beyond 15 minutes or dropping local tissue temperature to this exact level triggers Cold-Induced Vasodilation (CIVD).
What is 50°F?
To achieve plastic deformation and structural change in soft tissue collagen, target temperature must be maintained for this exact duration.
What is 5 to 10 minutes?
The required ratio of paraffin wax to mineral oil maintained in a therapeutic bath.
What is 6:1 or 7:1?
You prepare a hot pack for a patient lying supine (on top of the pack). You must add extra towel layers because body weight causes this effect.
What is Compressing insulating air pockets (increasing conductive heat transfer)?
The trasnformation of a non-thermal energy form (such as mechanical sound wave or electromagnetic energy) into heat inside the tissue.
What is Conversion?
The acronym representing the exact 4-stage sensory progression felt by a patient during cryotherapy application.
What is CBAN (Cold, Burning, Aching, Numbness)?
The standard total number of dry towel layers required between a commercial hydrocollator hot pat and the patient's skin.
What is 6 to 8 layers?
The standard operating temperature range for a Fluidotherapy dry-heat unit.
What is 100°F to 118°F?
A patient reports a history of radiation therapy for a tumor in the lower back. Thermotherapy is strictly contraindicated because increased circulation could cause this.
What is Metastasis / Accelerated tumor growth?
The physical property defined as the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of material by 1°C.
A vascular skin reaction marked by smooth, elevated hives in response to cold that represents an absolute contraindication for cryotherapy.
What is Cold Hypersensitivity / Cold Urticaria?
Thermotherapy is contraindicated in active Rheumatoid Arthritis because increased metabolic activity accelerates the destruction of this tissue.
What is Articular Cartilage?
The temperature range required for a paraffin wax bath unit to become self-sterilizing.
What is 175°F to 180°F?
A PTA wants a patient with hand stiffness to perform active ROM exercises during heat application. The PTA chooses Fluidotherapy over Paraffin because Paraffin forms this barrier.
What is a solid wax glove (preventing active movement)?
Deep heating agents (such as ultrasound and diathermy) reach tissues up to this approximate depth to heat large muscle beds and joint capsules.
What is 5cm?
Generalized cooling is clinically indicated for patients with this neurological condition because heat aggravates their fatigue and muscle weakness.
What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
When applying a hydrocollator hot pack, the clinician must visually inspect the patient's skin for excessive erythema at this exact time mark.
What is 5 minutes?
Fluidotherapy is specifically indicated for this distal extremity clinical issue due to the tactile particle agitation of circulating corn cob material.
What is Desensitization / Cutaneous Hypersensitivity?
A patient presents with acute trauma edema. The PTA applies the "RICE" protocol, which stands for these four clinical steps.
What is Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation?