Diathermy

Diathermy (Greek for heat penetration, english diathermy ) and high frequency thermotherapy is an electro- therapeutic method of physical therapies in medicine, is generated in the heat in body tissues by means of high-frequency electric current. The diathermy can also be in the depth of a heat generating, in contrast to the application of infrared red light waves of the treatment, mainly heat the surface of the skin.

In diathermy electrode either be placed on the skin, coupled with the high- frequency source, or the skin area in question is an antenna that is connected to the generator, is irradiated. In this case, a proportion also reaches into the depths and can induce eddy currents in the tissue, leading to the generation of heat. The choice of the frequency and the imaginary part of the relative permittivity of the tissue to determine the extent to which heat development is carried out in the depth.

Parameter

For diathermy following frequency ranges are allowed:

The applied benefits may lie several hundred watts at up. Diathermy work in the so-called ISM bands to disturb neighboring radio systems as little as possible.

Indications

Methods of electrotherapy are primarily used to improve circulation, stimulate the metabolism, for sciatica, rheumatism, arthritis or for Tonusherabsetzung in muscle tension and spasm solution.

Other applications include pine and sinus inflammation or suppuration -; However, these treatments are today due to the proximity of the poorly perfused eyes and by the proximity -related potential thermal damage to them less common.

Short wave therapy

Capacitor field method

The tissues are heated differently depending on their electrical properties. The vibration energy is converted into heat. It is warm in particular materials and tissues with a high ohmic resistance ( adipose tissue, connective tissue, bone ), the highly conductive muscles, however, hardly.

Coil field method

An induction coil as a result of electromagnetic induction, eddy currents are induced in the electromagnetic field into tissue. The density of these eddy currents depends on the conductivity of the tissue from ( hydrous fabric wicks good, fat bad)

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy

This electrical therapy (English Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy, or PEMF PEMFT, even Pulsed Magnetic Therapy, Pulse Magneto Therapy ) is mainly used in orthopedics for the treatment of nonunions, bone healing, inter alia, used by physiotherapists. Thereby magnetic pulses transmitted by the injured tissue, which streams are generated, which stimulate cell repair.

D' Darsonvalization ( Zeileis method)

In this therapy (named after Jacques- Arsène d' Arsonval ) short-duration high-frequency, high voltage pulses are used, creating a brush discharges therapy electrode ( Geissler tube). The discharges are felt on the skin depending on the distance of the electrode either as tingling, sometimes in conjunction with slight fibrillar muscle twitching, or severe skin irritation with muscle contraction. If the electrode to the body, the fingers of the practitioner can make the counter-electrode, thereby nerves or acupuncture points are stimulated. Use is the method of promoting blood circulation, stimulate the metabolism, activation of the muscles and relieving pain.

Electrosurgery

The surgical diathermy ( electrosurgery ) refers to a process in which high-frequency current for separation or local destruction ( necrosis ) is used by tissues. It finds particular application in highly perfused tissue to keep the bleeding low. It can be used to usually not more than 4 MHz frequencies of 300 kHz.