2. INTRODUCTION
Fluidotherapy is a dry heating
agent, that provides mechanical
as well as thermal stimuli to
produce therapeutic effect.
It is a superficial heating
modality.
3. TRANSMISSION OF HEAT
• Fluidotherapy transfers heat by CONVECTION method.
• Transference of heat to a body by the movement of air,
matter, or liquid around or past the body
• During heating or cooling by convection the thermal agent
is in motion, the kinetic energy of the molecules is
increased, they move farther apart and the part becomes
less dense.
• Consequently the part rises and the above dense part
descends to take its place.
4. EQUIPMENT
• Consists of a cabinet containing finely ground cellulose particles made
from corn cob.
• Heated air is made to be circulated through the particles, so that the
particles move like liquid.
• Allows high heating (higher than water and paraffin).
• It utilizes a stream of thermostatically controlled heated air flowing
over and through particles by an electric fan inside a lid covered steel
cabinet.
5. • This air stream creates air
pockets and bubbles to provide
a powerful massaging action
that transmits heat and tactile
stimulation to achieve many
physiological and therapeutic
benefits.
7. KEY EFFECTS
• Increases blood circulation and
assists in pain relief.
DRY HEAT
• Allows patients to freely perform
a variety of resistive exercises
with increased mobility and
decreased pain.
• The fluidized particles act like a
low viscosity fluid, allowing limbs
to be suspended much like in a
liquid state.
LIMB
BUOYANCY • The action provides warmth,
increased local circulation and
pain diminishing effect to help
increase joint range of motion.
Massaging
8. APPLICATION
The patients part if put inside the cabinet starts to float as if floating
inside water and gets heated.
As the system has very low viscosity, it allows exercise to be performed
inside the cabinet, like exercises performed inside warm water but the
part does not get wet.
Temperature range = 38 to 45 C.
Treatment time = 15 – 20 minutes.
9. PREPARATION
• The patient should be prepared in the same way like hot pack
application, i.e. the part is undressed, jewelry etc. is removed and skin
sensation for heat and cold is checked.
• If there is any open wound on the part to be treated, it should be
covered with a plastic sheet.
• The part to be treated is extended through the portal of the unit and
sleeve should be closed to prevent the particles from coming out.
10.
11. • Moreover the fluidotherapy
unit device is such that it
contains additional entry ports
to allow the therapist to enter
the cabinet and thus passive
movements of the distal
extremities can be performed
inside the device itself.
12. • The required temperature is maintained and the patient is told to
exercise the part inside the cabinet.
• After treatment is over the part is removed from the cabinet and the
skin is examined.
• A mild erythema is normal.
13. INDICATIONS
Treat distal extremities:
1. Decrease pain
2. Increase range of motion
3. Decrease swelling
4. Decrease spasm
5. Inflammation
6. Post – operative Rehabilitation
7. Sub – acute condition
8. Chronic condition
15. ADVANTAGES
1. Easy to use
2. Agitation can be controlled
3. Most body areas can be treated
4. Allows for some active exercise
5. Provides some dry and comfortable heat
6. Can be used for desensitization treatment
16. Disadvantages
• Expensive to purchase
• Some patients don’t like the closed in feeling
• Some patients are intolerant to the particles present inside
• May require the limb to be placed in dependent position
