Light Therapy

Question 1

What is the DEFINITION of LIGHT THERAPY?

Answer 1

• Use of light (electromagnetic wave) for therapy
• AKA Phototherapy

Question 2

What are the WAVELENGTHS on the ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM?

Answer 2

• Infrared Light = 760 - 10,000 nm
• Visible Light = 380 - 760 nm
• UV Light = 180 - 380 nm

Question 3

What are the Wavelengths of the DIFFERENT Ultraviolet Light (UV) and their functions?

Answer 3

• UVA = 315 - 380 nm - causes PIGMENTATION
• UVB = 280- 315 nm - causes ERYTHEMA
• UVC = 180 - 280nm- it is BACTERICIDAL

Question 4

What do the EFFECTS of Light, depend on?

Answer 4

• Amount of Light Absorbed
• Intensity of Exposure
• Duration of Exposure
• Type of Radiation

Question 5

What is INFRARED Light?

Answer 5

• Type of EXOGENOUS Heat

Question 6

What are the PROPERTIES of IR?

Answer 6

• Wavelength = 760 - 10,000nm
• Penetration = 1 - 2cm
• NOT permeable thru WATER

Question 7

What are the PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS of IR?

Answer 7

• THERMAL Effect = Exogenous Heat
• Trophic / Anti-inflammatory / Analgesic / MM Relaxation Effect = Hyperaemia / Peripheral Nerve Irritation

Question 8

What are the THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS of IR?

Answer 8

• INCREASED Extensibility of CT = MM Relaxation
• Trophic Effect = Stimulates Metabolism
• Analgesic
• Anti-inflammatory

Question 9

What are the CLINICAL APPLICATIONS for IR?

Answer 9

• TROPHIC Effect = Wound / Bell’s Palsy
• ANALGESIC Effect
• Musculoskeletal Disorders = Osteoarthritis
• ANTI-INFLAMMATORY Effect = ENT Disorders
• INCREASED Extensibility of CT = MM Spasm / Joint Stiffness / Spasticity

Question 10

What are the CONTRAINDICATIONS of IR?

Answer 10

• Thermal-Sensitivity Disorders
• Malignancies
• Acute Inflammation = As heat INCREASES Oedema
• Bleeding / Haematomas
• PURULENT Inflammation

Question 11

What is VISIBLE Light?

Answer 11

• Type of EXOGENOUS Heat

Question 12

What are the PROPERTIES of Visible Light?

Answer 12

• Wavelength = 380 - 760 nm
• Penetration = 1 - 2mm
• CAN PASS thru Water + Glass
• NOT Opaque Objects

Question 13

What are the PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS of VISIBLE Light?

Answer 13

• CNS = Improves mood
• Endocrine System = The Hypothalamus + Pituitary Gland
• THERMAL Effect = Since it’s Exogenous
• BLUE Visible Light = Affects Bilirubin levels

Question 14

What CLINICAL APPLICATION is Visible Light used for?

Answer 14

JAUNDICE of the new-born

Question 15

What are the PROPERTIES of UV Light?

Answer 15

• Wavelength = 180 - 380 nm
• Penetration = 0.5mm

THRU QUARTZ / Glass / Clean air
** NOT ORDINARY** Glass

Question 16

What are the CLINICAL APPLICATIONS of UV Light?

Answer 16

SUBERYTHEMAL Doses

• Locally = Rhinitis / Pharyngitis / Wounds
• Generally = DM / Obesity / Allergies / Rickets

ERYTHEMAL Doses = Neuritis / Neuropathy / Joint Inflammation / Rhinitis

SEGMENTARY / REFRACTORY Doses = Erythemal Collar

Question 17

What are the PHYSIOLOGICAL Effects of UV Light?

Answer 17

• PHOTO-ELECTRIC Effect
• PHOTO-CHEMICAL Effect = Causing Protein Denaturation / DNA Destruction

Question 18

What are the CONTRAINDICATIONS of UV Light?

Answer 18

• Area around eyes = WEAR GOGGLES
• Skin Tumours
• HIGH Skin Sensitivity Disorders = Lupus / Thyrotoxicosis

Question 19

What are the TYPES of SKIN SENSITIVITIES to UV-B (Erythema)?

Answer 19

• SEASONAL = Sensitive in Winter
• REGIONAL = Diff Parts of Body such as - Abdomen / Lumbar / Chest / Back
• INDIVIDUAL = Depends on Age / Gender / Race

Question 20

What is the DEFINITION of BIODOSE?

Answer 20

• It’s the MINIMAL TIME used for UV Light to cause SLIGHT ERYTHEMA with CLEAR MARGINS
• AFTER EXPOSURE from 50cm Distance

Question 21

What is PUVA Therapyand it’s CLINICAL APPLICATION?

Answer 21

• Form of UV-A (Pigmentation) Therapy
• Used to treat PSORIASIS = Using a drug called, PSORALEN (oral)

Question 22

What is the DEFINITION of LASER LIGHT?

Answer 22

• Light
• Amplification

by

• Stimulated
• Emission

of

• Radiation

Question 23

What are the PROPERTIES of LASER Light?

Answer 23

• Monochromatic (1 wavelength)
• MINIMAL Divergence of waves
• Polarised + Parallel
• Coherent

Question 24

What are the PHYSIOLOGICAL Effects of LASER Light?

Answer 24

• Trophic = For HEALING
• Pain-relief
• Anti-inflammatory
• Thermal

Question 25

What are the **TYPES** of **Lasers**?

Answer 25

**1) PULSE Mode** **2) CONTINUOUS Mode*** 3) Upto **10 mW** = Laser **Puncture** 4) Upto **25 - 75 mW** = Laser **Treatment**

Question 26

What are the **CLINICAL APPLICATIONS** of **Laser**?

Answer 26

- Musculoskeletal = **Fracture** Healing - Neurological = **Neuritis / Herpes Zoster** - Inflammatory = RA - Dermatological

Question 27

What are the **CONTRAINDICATIONS** of **Laser**?

Answer 27

- Eye Area - Tattoos / Freckle = They absorb light **differently** - Endocrine Glands - Malignancies - Metal Implants - Epilepsy - Pregnancy

Question 28

What are the **SKIN REACTIONS** for **IR**, **Visible** and **UV** Light?

Answer 28

**IR Light** = Erythema **Caloricum (THERMAL)** **Visible Light** = Erythema **Caloricum (THERMAL)** **UV Light** = Erythema **Photoelectricum (UV Exposure)**