What are the physical forces of water?
- buoyancy
- viscosity
- hydrostatic pressure
- specific gravity
What is buoyancy?
the quality of being able to float
- provides support to the part being treated preventing pain from muscular exertion
- assists weak patients in moving against gravity
What is resistance to movement?
water resists the body part because due to the water viscosity (the forces in water or any fluid which resists flow)
What is hydromassage?
a massaging effect from the whirling water
What is cleansing?
a flushing of cavities and surfaces due to the turbulence of whirling water
What are the physiological effects of hydrotherapy/whirlpool?
- Local and general responses of the body to heat and cold
- Psychologically, whirl pool is comforting, pleasurable activity.
- Acts as an analgesic agent
- Relaxes muscle spasms
What are the physical effects of hydrotherapy/whirlpool?
- Buoyancy of water aids in exercising weak muscles
- Viscosity of water provides resistance to movement
- Cleansing and swirling water has a debriding action
- hydromassage is the mechanical action of the agitation and aeration
- The stimulus for motion is inherent in the action of the water
What are the indications for whirlpool?
- Open wounds, decubitus ulcers, and burns (not used as frequently because of nonselective debridement)
- Subacute and chronic traumatic and inflammatory conditions such as strains, sprains, ecchymosis (discoloratin of the skin from bleeding underneath, typical caused by bruising), and healed fractures
- contractures
- scars and adhesions
- Arthritis
- bursitis
- muscle spasm
What is the temperature range for a whirlpool treatment for the arm?
97-106 F
What is the temperature range for a whirlpool treatment for the leg?
97-104 F
What is the temperature range for a whirlpool treatment for sit in treatment, full body, or hubbard tank?
97-102 F
What are the general aims for pool therapy?
- improve circulation
- restore mobility
- promote patient relaxation
- strengthen muscles
- provide gait training to weight bearing joints
- improve psychological and emotional support
What are the physiological responses to contrast baths?
- Local and general responses of the body to heat and cold occur. The degree of the response depends upon the temperature of the water used and the amount of the body immersed.
- A counterirritant effect occurs. Patients often subjectively greater relief from pain than with heat alone.
- there is a prolonged increase in blood flow following the treatment. Treatment may produce edema; therefore, the body part should be elevated after the treatment.
What are the indications of contrasts bath?
- neuritis or neuralgia
- reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD)- dysfunction in ability to dilate and constrict blood vessels (vasomotor)
- Peripheral vascular disease except for arterial
- Sprains and strains
- Indurated (hardened) edema
What are the temperature ranges for contrast bath?
Hot water- 100-106 F (avg 103)
Cold- 50-65 F (may need ice)
*more moderate temperatures needed when treating ares of diminished sensation or impaired circulation
What are the possible ratios of contrast bath
3 min hot : 1 min cold
4 min hot : 2 min cold
Total treatment time: 20-30 min
Begin and end in warm water
What are the parts to a whirlpool?
- Tank- often stainless, possible fiberglass
- Turbine- specialized water pump
- Thermometer- always check when water properly mixed
- Drain- located at the bottom of the tank
- Overflow drain
- Pump
What are the labels on the whirlpool picture?
a) on/off switch
b) turbine
c) turbine height adjustment
d) turbine support bar
e) intake valve
f) exhaust valve
g) water control vlave
How do you clean a whirlpool?
- drain
- wipe and rinse sides
- place 5 gallon container under turbine
- Fill container with water and disinfectant
- Start turbine and let agitate 5 minutes
- Stop turbine and empty solution in the tank
- scrub everything with disinfectant solution - clean the accessories with something too
- Open drain and empty cleaning solution
- Rinse tank with hot water. let drain and repeat rinse
- Wipe down after final rinsing
- mop up any water on floor- don’t want fall hazard, dispose of dressing and soiled linen
- Polish the outside periodically
- periodically check accuracy of built in thermometer
- periodically check condition of the cord
