Physiological Properties of Thermal Modalities (1)

Heat is a form of energy which is interchangeable with other forms of energy such as electrical or mechanical energy When the body is heated rise in temperature due to the increased energy of motion of molecules in the body Physiological Properties of Thermal Modalities

Heat and Temperature Various forms of energy converted into heat. There is a constant ratio between the energy lost and the heat produced The First Law of Thermodynamics In all processes occurring in an isolated system, the energy of the system remains constant Or simply, energy is neither created nor destroyed

Electrical, chemical and magnetic energy can be converted into heat One form of energy converted into another form and some energy is always converted into heat Heat absorbed by small area more than by big area Temperature is the expression of all status of matter, solid, liquid and gas

Temperature measured by Celsius (C) and Fahrenheit scales 0°C = 32°F 100°C = 212°F Heat unit is Joules (J)

Specific Heat Specific heat is the amount of heat energy required to raise a unit mass of material by 1°C S.H. of water = J/g/C° S.H. of water = 1.01 J/g/C° S.H. of skin > muscle > fat > bone

Physical Effects of Heat When heat added to matter it increases the kinetic energy of its microstructure 1. When rising the temperature, the average kinetic energy of molecules increases 2. Expansion of the material Kinetic energy vibration of molecules expand the material Gas > liquid > solid

Physical Effects of Heat 3. Change in physical state: changing substance from one physical state to another requires a specific amount of heat energy Latent heat: the energy required to convert 1g of water at 100°C to 1g of steam at 100°C Latent heat of water [2268J] 4. Production of an electrical potential difference 5. Acceleration of chemical reactions

Physical Effects of Heat Van Hoffs Law Any chemical reaction capable of being accelerated is accelerated by rise of temperature 6. Production of electromagnetic waves 7. Thermionic emission 8. Reduction in viscosity of fluids

Methods of Heat Transfer 1. Conduction 2. Convection 3. Conversion 4. Radiation 5. Evaporation

Conduction Heat transfer by direct contact (e.g. hot pack, cold pack) Heat conducted from high temperature material to low temperature material Guidelines of heat transfer by conduction 1.The greater the temperature difference between the heating or cooling agents and the body part it is applied to, the faster the rate of heat transfer

Guidelines of heat transfer by conduction 2.Materials with high thermal conductivity transfer heat more rapidly than those with low thermal conductivity Thermal conductivity: is the rate at which a material transfers heat by conduction Metal > water > air 3.The larger the area of contact between a thermal agent and the patient, the greater the total heat transfer 4.The rate of temperature rise decreases in proportion to tissue thickness

Convection Heat transfer by circulation of a medium of a different temperature (e.g. fluidotherapy. Whirlpool) Due to direct contact between a circulating medium and another material of a different temperature Heat transfer more than if by conduction Blood transfers heat to reduce local change in tissue temperature reduce tissue damage

Conversion Conversion from one type of energy to another (e.g. ultrasound, diathermy, metabolism) Conversion of a non thermal form of energy into heat Not affected by the temperature of thermal agent Rate of heat transfer depends on the power of energy source Not require direct contact. Require good transmitter

Radiation Exchange directly without an intervening medium or contact Rate of temperature increase depends on intensity of radiation, size of radiation source, treated are, distance and angle of radiation

Evaporation Absorption of energy as a result of conversion of a material from a liquid to vapor state (e.g. vapocoolant spray, sweating)

Body Heat Transfer Heat exchanged by conductive processes between body surface and the environment The body core temperature is constant Equilibrium is maintained between internal heat production and heat loss or gain at skin surface Heat transfer within tissue is by conduction and convection Heating modalities are subdivided according to their primary mode of heat

In Thermotherapy The properties concerned with heat conduction are thermal conductivity, tissue density and specific heat Convection involves these properties in addition to fluid viscosity Thermal homeostasis: homeothermy is the pattern of temperature in which cyclic variation in deep body teperature (core) is maintained within the limits of -2/+2°C Hyperthermia +2 °C 39 °C Hypothermia -2 °C 37 °C

Body Temperature It consists of two compartments: 1.The core (central compartment) Controlled by physiological mechanisms at a constant level, it is around 37 °C, more in organs. 2.The shell or superficial layer In subject to much greater variations in temperature Varies according to the core temperatue and external environment

Body Temperature Measurement It is measured by different types of thermometers Thermal balance Core temperature is constant, there is equilibrium between internal heat production and external heat loss

Metabolic Heat Production (M) Maximum values of heat production occur during sever physical work Heat production can increase at rest in cold conditions by involuntary muscle contractions that produce shivering Control of body temperature Thermoregulation integrated by a controlling in the CNS respond to heat content of tissues signaled by thermoreceptors

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