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1. SHORTWAVE
DIATHERMY
Author: SaimaMustafa (pt)

2. CONTENTS
Histroy of Diathermy
Definition of Diathermy
Benefits of Diathermy
Types of Diathermy
Short wave diathermy
Modalities of Short-wave diathermy
Types of Short-wave diathermy
Techniques of application of Short-wave diathermy
Physiological effects
Indications
contraindications

3. DIATHERMY HISTORY
• Serbian American engineer NIKOLA TESLA first noted around 1891 the ability of
high frequency currents to produce heat in the body
• 1899 Austrian Chemist VON ZAYNEK determined the rate of heat production in
tissue as a function of frequency and current density and first proposed using high
frequency currents for deep heating therapy

4. DIATHERMY HISTORY
• In 1908 German physician KARL FRANZ NAGELSCHMIDT coined the term
diathermy and performed the first extensive experiments on patients.
Nagelschmidt is considered the founder of field. He wrote the textbook on
diathermy in 1913 which revolutionized the field
• In 1920s the development of vacuum tube machines allowed frequencies to be
increased to 10-300MHz called shortwave diathermy

5. DIATHERMY
Diathermy is a therapeutic treatment commonly prescribed for muscular and joint associated pains
Dia means through or also means two
Thermy means heat or temperature
The term “diathermy” means “through heating” or producing deep heating directly in the tissues of the body
It stimulates the circulation, relieve pain, enhances rate of recovery of healing the tissue

6. BENEFITS OF DIATHERMY
INTENSE HEAT DELIVERED
PROVIDES PAIN RELIEF AND
BETTER FLEXIBILITY
REDUCES INFLAMMATION IMPROVES CIRCULATION ACCELERATE HEALING

7. SHORTWAVE
DIATHERMY
• SWD is a modality that produces deep heating
via conversion of electromagnetic energy to
thermal energy
• It is type of high frequency current
• SWD current frequency 10-100MHz
• The commonly used in medical work having freq
of 27.12MHz
• It produce deep and superficial tissue heating,
under controlled conditions
• It is applied for 20 min at the max tolerable dose

8. MODALITIES
• It is either continuous or pulsed
• PSWD: It is the application of series of
short pulses of SWD so that short periods
of SWD interrupted by gaps where there
is no SWD
• The patient receives lower dose of SWD
energy if compared with continuous SWD
applied of the same time
• The tissues will receive lower thermal load

9. TYPES OF
SHORTWAVE
DIATHERMY
Induction Field
Diathermy
Capacitive Field
Diathermy

10. Places the patient in the
electromagnetic field
Current flowing within the coil
produces a rotating magnetic field
Magnetic field produces eddy
currents in the tissues
Eddy currents cause friction that
produce heat
Also referred to as Magnetic field
diathermy
Induction
Field
Diathermy

11. CAPACITIVE FIELD DIATHERMY
Uses the
patients tissue as
a part of the
circuit
The tissues,
electrical
resistance
produces heat
Muscle is heated
via conduction
from the
tissues
Also referred to
as Condenser
field diathermy

12. INDUCTION FIELD DIATHERMY CAPACITIVE FIELD DIATHERMY

13. WORKING OF SHORTWAVE
DIATHERMY
• Diathermy uses high-frequency electric current to produce heat deep
inside a targeted tissue. It can reach areas as deep as two inches
beneath the skin’s surface.
• The diathermy machine does not apply heat directly to the body.
Instead, the waves generated by the machine allow the body to generate
heat from within the targeted tissue.
• Diathermy is usually part of a complete physical therapy or rehabilitative
regimen. Frequency and length of treatments vary

14. METHOD OF APPLICATION OF SWD
There are 2 methods
of applications of
SWD
condenser field
method
cable method

15. CONDENSER
FIELD METHOD
contraplanar
method
coplanar
method
cross fire
method
monopolar
method

16. CONTRAPLANER
METHOD
• It is the most satisfactory
method,especially for the
treatment of the deeply
placed structures.
• In this method the electrodes
are placed in oppposite
direction around the body
area whichb has to be treated.
• A uniform production of
electrostatic force is produced
which result into deep heat
compare to superficial heat.
• It mostly use for the
treatment of ankle,shoulder
etc

17. COPLANAR METHOD
• In this method electrodes are placed side by side,on
the same aspect of the part,provided there is adequte
distance between them.
• The distance between the two electrode should be
more than the total width of spacing.
•

18. CROSS FIRE
METHOD
• In this method, half of the
treatment period is given with
the electrode of one position
and then they are moved to be
at right angle to that obtained
during the first of the
treatment.
• For example, for knee joint,
during the first half of session
the electrodes are placed over
the medial and lateral aspects
of the knee, during the second
half of session the electrodes
are placed over the anterior
and posterior aspects of the
knee.

19. MONOPOLAR METHOD
The active electrode are placed over the site
of the lesion, while the indifferent one is
applied to some distant part of the body.
This method is used for very superficial
lesion(face and sinuses).

20. CABLE METHOD
ARRANGEMENT AT THE END
OF THE CABLE
ARRANGEMENT THROUGH
CENTRE OF THE CABLE
GRID ARRANGEMENT SIMPLE PAN CAKE METHOD DOUBLE PAN CAKE
METHOD

21. TYPES OF ELECTRODES
• Flexible pads: consist of metal
electrode encased in rubber and
produce an electrostatic field.
Space plates: consist of a rigid metal
electrode encased in a Perspex
cover an electrostatic field.

22. TYPES OF ELECTRODES
• Coil or cable: electrode consists of a
wire with plugs at either end
creates electromagnetic field.
• The monode : flat, rigid coil
encased in plastic cover an electromagnetic
field.

23. TYPES OF ELECTRODES
• The diploe: or drum electrode,
consists of a flat coil electrode
encased in a Perspex cover with
two wings an electromagneticfield

24. PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECT:
The principal effect of SWD on the body is the production of heat in the tissue due to
the rise of temperature.
1. Fall in blood pressure :
• The generalized vasodilation reduce the peripheral resistance to blood flow.
• Heat also reduces blood viscosity which help in the reduction of blood pressure.
2. Increase activity of sweat glands :
If a general rise of temperature occurs there will be increased activation of the sweat
glands.

25. 3. Increased metabolism :
• Heating tissue accelerates chemical changes such as metabolism, so oxygen and food stuffs are used
up .
• With increased metabolism there will be increased output of waste products .
4. General rise of temperature :
• As blood passes through the heated tissues, it also becomes heated and carries the heat to other
parts.
• Rise of temperature induces muscle relaxation and increase the efficiency of muscle action.

26. 5. Increase blood supply :

27. THERAPEUTIC
USES :
1. Effect on bacterial
infection :
Inflammation is normal response
of body to bacteria
Heating the tissue auguments
these changes so reinforce body
normal mechanism to of dealing
with infecting organism.

28. • 2. Effect on muscle tissue :
• Muscle relaxation
• Relief of muscle spasm

29. 3. Relief of pain :
• Sedative effect
• Removal of waste products
• Counter irritation
• Resolution of inflammation
4. Inflammatory :
• Assist in removal of waste product
• All these effect bring about resolution of inflammation
• 5. Reduce healing. time :
• Increase blood supply
• More nutritive material
• More Oxygen supply

30. INDICATIONS
MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS
• DEGENERATIVE JOINT DISORDERS
• EXAMPLE; OSTEOARTHRITIS AND
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
• SPRAIN
• STRAIN

31. INDICATIONS
CONT......
• CAPSULE LESIONS
• REMOVE TRIGGER POINT
• MUSCLE & TENDON TEAR
• HEMATOMA

33. INFLAMMATORY
CONDITIONS
• BOILS ( Infection of hair follicle )
• CARBUNCLES (Red, Swellon, Cluster of boils)
• SINUSITIS
• PELVIC CONDITIONS
• INFECTED SURGICAL INCISION
• TRAUMATIC CONDITIONS

34. CONTRAINDICATIONS
• METAL IMPLANTS OR
METAL JEWELRY
• CARDIAC PACEMAKER
• ISCHEMIC AREA
• MOIST DRESSING
• PREGNANCY
• SENSORY LOSS

35. CONT.......
• CANCER
• UNRELIABLE PATIENT
• SENSITIVE AREA
- EPIPHYSEAL PLAT IN
CHILDREN. - SITE
OF INFECTION
- FACE AND EYE
• HEMORRHAGIC AREA
• FEVER
• EPILIPTIC PATIENT

36. DANGER
• BURN
• EXCESS CURRENT
• HYPERSENSITIVE SKIN
• IMPAIRED BLOOD FLOW
• CONCENTRATION OF ELECTRIC FIELD
• SCALD
• OVERDOSE
• ELECTRIC SHOCK

37. CONT....
• OVERDOSE
• FAINTNESS
• PRECIPITATION OF
GANGRENE
• GIDDINESS