Superficial heat:Convective Agents

1. How does fluidotherapy work? On what body parts is it most useful? When should it be avoided?
2. What is hydrotherapy? How long should it be given for?
3. What is the difference between a Whirlpool bath and a Hubbard tank?
4. What are contraindications to a Hubbard tank?
5. What is a contrast bath? What are its uses?
6. What are contraindications to a contrast bath?

Answers:
1. Fluidotherapy is a convective agent by which hot air is blown through a container holding fine cellulose particles, producing a warm air-fluid mixture with properties similar to a liquid. It works best on the hands and feet. It should be avoided in infected wounds. Burn precautions should be maintained.
2. Hydrotherapy involves external use of water to treat a physical condition, which produces convective heating and cooling, massage, and gentle debridement. Treatment should be given for approximately 10-20 minutes, depending on cardiopulmonary tolerance.
3. A whirlpool bath is used for partial body immersion. A Hubbard tank provides total body immersion. A lower temperature is used for a Hubbard tank (<39C) to avoid changing core temperature.
4. Incontinence, skin infections, unstable BP, uncontrolled epilepsy, acute febrile episodes, URI, tuberculosis, and multiple sclerosis. Caution should be taken in patients with VC < 1L.
5. A contrast bath involves distal limbs receiving alternating heat and cold in a whirlpool tank to produce reflex hyperemia. Alternate 1-4min cold soak with 4-6 min warm soaks. It is used for RA, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, to toughen residual limbs, muscular strains, and joint sprains.
6. Small vessel disease (diabetes), arteriosclerotic endarteritis, Burger's disease.