Adobe Systems Department of Biophysics, Medical Faculty, Masaryk University in Brno 1 Lectures on Medical Biophysics Physical Therapy ultrazvuk_v Hubbard Hydrotherapy Tank, Carlos Andreson, Watercolour, 1943 Adobe Systems 2 Lecture outline Main methods of physical therapy: ̶Therapy by mechanical treatment ̶Non-electric thermotherapy – (heating and cooling, hydrotherapy) ̶Electrotherapy ̶Ultrasound therapy ̶Magnetotherapy ̶Phototherapy 3 Therapy by mechanical treatment - examples Massages – manual or instrumental Changes in blood circulation, muscular relaxation Rehabilitative exercises increase of body strength and mobility, psychical effects, improvement of body posture massage6small Lecebny_telocvik Adobe Systems 4 Thermotherapy The application of heat is (from biophysical point of view) an intervention in the body thermoregulation. Heat can be delivered to the organism (positive thermotherapy), or taken away from the organism (negative thermotherapy). The body response depends on: - the way of application - heat conduction, convection or radiation (see electrotherapy and phototherapy) - the intensity, penetration ability and duration of the heat stimulus. Nonelectric thermotherapy causes mainly changes of body surface temperature (to depths of 2 - 3 cm), with electrotherapy we can heat deeper tissues. - the size and geometry of the application area in the case of local application: The tissue temperature increases when the heat input from outside exceeds the heat output. Cylindrical body parts are heated faster when the radius is small. Considering only conduction, the resistance to heat flow increases linearly with the thickness of tissue layers. In cylindrically shaped tissues it increases non-linearly. - the patient’s health (ability of thermoregulation). Adobe Systems 5 Thermotherapy The following sources of heat are used in thermotherapy: a)Internal (heat produced by the organism itself). b)External. Considering the origin and transfer of heat, the thermotherapeutic methods can be divided into five main groups based on: - heat conduction - heat convection - radiation - high-frequency electric currents - thermal action of ultrasound 6 Heat conduction Mainly packs and compresses. According to the extent of the covered body part, they can be total or partial, according to the temperature hot, indifferent or cold, and wet or dry. The compresses can be dry (blankets, bottles), peloids (mud) and paraffin. Their temperature ranges from 45 to 55 ºC in dry compresses up to 60 - 77 ºC in paraffin compresses. Thalasso-Views mud3 Adobe Systems 7 Heat convection – hydrotherapy ̶hydrotherapy encompasses, besides heat effects, also mechanical action (buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, impacts of water movement). It acts mainly on the cardiovascular system, vegetative nerves and psychology. Heat helps muscles to relax, reduces pain, accelerates resorption of oedemas. The procedures differ from each other in the way of heat transfer, in the ratio of conduction and convection, and in the degree of homogeneity of heat flux: ̶cold (less than 18 °C), cool (18 – 24 °C), tepid (24 – 33 °C), warm (33 – 36 °C) or hot (37 – 42 °C). ̶Or: hypothermic (10 - 34 °C, 5 min.), isothermal (34 - 36°C, 20 - 30 min), hyperthermic (37 - 42°C, short duration). ̶The effect of the whole-body bath is given mainly by the surface body temperature. After immersion, the body surface is exposed to the actual medium temperature until thermal equilibrium is formed in several millimetres thick water layer, and the effective bath temperature starts to act. Disturbing the layer prevents stabilisation of the effective temperature, thus the patient should not move during the bath. 8 Whirling baths, underwater massages, hot and cold water jets hydrotherapy1 hydrof For upper and lower limbs moderately hyperthermic – increasing blood supply and metabolism, skin receptors activated hydrotherapy_02_sm Alternative application of sharp hot and cold-water jets – a method with outstanding activation effect. Adobe Systems 9 Sauna Effects of hot (80 - 100°C) air of low relative humidity (10-30%) are utilised, followed by cooling in cold water. Outstanding tonic action. Steam bath: about 45°C, up to 100% humidity. Sauna Adobe Systems Cryochamber 10 V kryokomoře mráz léčí http://img1.hyperinzerce.cz/x-cz/inz/5302/5302196-kryokomora-za-bezkonkurencni-cenu-1.jpg Action of dry very cold air (up to -160°C) during some minutes followed by aerobic exercise. Adobe Systems 11 Electrotherapy Electrotherapeutic methods utilise - Direct electric current (galvanotherapy, iontophoresis) - Low-frequency alternating current or short impulses of direct current (stimulation) - High-frequency alternating current (diathermy) - High frequency electromagnetic radiation Adobe Systems 12 Conduction of electric currents in tissues ̶Passage of electric current through human body obeys the Kirchhoff’s laws. Tissue resistance varies. The ions are current carriers. ̶We can distinguish two types of tissue electric conductivity. Cytoplasm and intercellular medium behaves like conductors whose resistance does not depend on frequency. Membrane structures have properties of capacitors, i.e. their impedance Z depends on frequency: 8-3 Adobe Systems 13 Resistivity (r, rho) of tissues R is the electrical resistance of a conductor (measured in Ω) l is the length of the conductor (measured in m) A is the cross-sectional area of the conductor (measured in m2) Adobe Systems 14 Tissue polarisation ̶The electric charges present in tissues are not always free, they are often bound to macromolecules which are an integral part of cellular structures, and their mobility is limited. The macromolecules behave like electric dipoles – variously oriented – their dipole moments are mutually compensated. ̶The electric dipoles are oriented according to the direction of the outer electric field when it is present – their polarisation occurs. So an inner electric field of opposite polarity arises, and the intensity of the outer electric field is lowered. This turning of polar molecules gives rise to the so-called displacement current. Permittivity e is a measure of this ability. 15 Effects of direct electric current (galvanotherapy, iontophoresis) Continuous direct current (DC) does not stimulate but can change conditions for that. This effect of DC is called electrotonus and is used in galvanotherapy. ØAround cathode (-) an increase of stimulation of motor nerves occurs = catelectrotonus. ØAround anode (+) a decrease of stimulation of sensitive nerves occurs = anelectrotonus. ØApplication in electrotherapy. Electrokinetic phenomena – movement of ions or solvent in electric field – iontophoresis – ions are transported inside the body. electra Adobe Systems 16 Low-frequency AC - electric stimulation ̶The excitability is a general feature of living systems. In mammals, it is best expressed in nerve and muscle tissue. Electric stimulation - ability of tissue to react on electric stimuli. The direct current has stimulating effects only when suddenly changed. ̶The stimulation is a threshold phenomenon, it occurs only after a specific threshold intensity has been reached - the rheobase. ̶The time factor is more important for quantification of stimulation ability: Chronaxie is a time interval necessary for induction of stimulation at the current intensity equal to a two-fold value of rheobase. ̶Any skeletal muscle has a characteristics chronaxie. Changes of chronaxie help to determine the degree of excitability impairment and also the degree of muscle impairment. The shortest chronaxie is found in skeletal muscles (< 1 ms), heart muscle (5 ms), the longest one have smooth muscles (50-700 ms). The chronaxie can be read from the so called I/t curve, the dependence of current pulse intensity on its duration. 17 ØThe skeletal muscle with normal innervations reacts differently on stimulation by electric impulses with rapid onset (rectangular impulses) and with slow onset (triangular impulses). ØIn short impulses below about 10 ms, the I/t curve has the same shape. ØFor longer rectangular impulses the excitability does not change (curve 1) but the excitability for triangular impulses lowers (curve 2). ØThe muscles with damaged innervations (denervated) are not excitable by very short impulses. However, their excitability for long impulses with slow onset increases (curve 3). So arises area of selective excitability („OSD“), which allows stimulation of denervated muscles without stimulation of healthy muscles. The I/t curve Adobe Systems 18 Low-frequency AC - frequency dependence of stimulatory action ̶In very low frequencies (< 100 Hz), the stimulatory action grows linearly with frequency. In high frequencies, the growth of stimulatory action becomes smaller and changes in decrease. In the range of 500 - 3000 Hz, the threshold value of stimulating current depends on Öf. The stimulatory action starts to decrease above 3000 Hz and at about 100 kHz disappears fully. ̶High frequency currents have no stimulatory action because the duration of one period is much shorter than the shortest chronaxie. They have no electrochemical effects either. 19 Electrostimulation %E0%A4%C3%D7%E8%CD%A7%A1%C3%D0%B5%D8%E9%B9%E4%BF%BF%E9%D2 45 The stimulating effects depend on the amplitude, frequency, shape and modulation of pulses, and the kind of tissue!!!!! Adobe Systems 20 Thermal effects of high frequency (HF) currents ̶Mechanism of the HF currents action is based on transformation of the absorbed electric energy into heat Q according to Joule’s law: Q = U·I·t where U is voltage, t is the time of current I passage. This mechanism of heat production depends on the way of HF currents application. ØDielectric heating (due to dielectric losses) takes place when applying currents by means of a capacitor field. ØWhen using induction fields, heat is produced by the so-called eddy currents. Adobe Systems 21 Utilisation of high-frequency (HF) electric currents ̶In the case of alternating electric HF currents (>100kHz), the heat effects dominate totally. The heat originates directly in tissues due to dielectric heating, eddy currents or absorption of electromagnetic energy. ̶For HF therapy, international agreements specified the following frequencies: ̶Short-wave diathermy (27.12 MHz, i.e. wavelength of 11.06 m), ̶Ultra-short-wave diathermy 433.92 MHz (69 cm), ̶Microwave therapy 2 400 or 2 450 MHz (12.4 or 12.25 cm) . ̶HF therapy makes possible deep heating. Adobe Systems 22 Three ways of application of HF currents: ̶1. The tissue is connected in the electric circuit as a resistor by means of contact electrodes – classical diathermy. It is not used in practice today. ̶2. Tissue is connected as dielectric placed between insulated electrodes – heating in the capacitor field. The heat produced is proportional to the dielectric loss. Amount of heat arising in subcutaneous fat tissue is lower than in the muscles. ̶3. Use of eddy currents in magnetic field of a coil – inductive heating. An insulated cable is wound round a limb, or a coil is laid to the body. The skin is less heated, 2 cm thick muscle layer lowers the heating to one half. Adobe Systems 23 Different ways of HF diathermy Application of HF currents (a- condenser field, b- inductive, c- microwaves) 47 Adobe Systems 24 Short-wave diathermy – heating in capacitor field diatermie Adobe Systems 25 Microwave therapy Source: magnetron. The oscillations of electromagnetic field are led to an emitter - a dipole with a reflector. 1 cm of muscle is enough to lower the intensity to one half, the relation between heat production in the skin and the muscles is almost equalised. Microwaves put electrically charged particles (ions, dipoles) into oscillatory motion which is transformed into heat by friction. Adobe Systems 26 Microwave diathermy brd-dthm (older type) mt3d Adobe Systems 27 Potential risks of microwave and radiofrequency radiation ̶Mainly thermal effects. ØMicrowave sources ØRadars ØCell phones ØRadio and TV transmitters ØElectric mains ØTrolley lines (wires) ̶Some studies showing carcinogenic effects of microwaves or low-frequency electromagnetic fields were not verified sufficiently, but it is prudent to reduce exposures. Adobe Systems 28 Ultrasound therapy ̶Ultrasound therapy is based on biological effects of ultrasonic oscillations which are not electric. Despite of that, this therapy is sometimes included in the list of electrotherapeutic methods. ̶An ultrasound (US) therapeutic system consists of two main parts: generator of HF electric current and the application probe, the US source itself, which consists of a piezoelectric transducer. ̶In therapy, f = 0.8 - 1 MHz is used, sometimes up to 3 MHz, with intensity of US - typically 0.5 - 1 W·cm-2 . Exposure time is 5 - 15 min., in 5 - 10 repetitions. US can be applied continuously or pulsed. ̶The main therapeutic mechanism is high-frequency massage of tissue. Additional effects are tissue heating (causing hyperaemia) and some physico-chemical effects. ̶Acoustic coupling between the probe and the skin is secured by a gel (local application) as well as water (underwater application). ̶Main indications of US therapy: chronic joint, muscle and neural diseases. Limited success is reported in healing wounds after surgery, healing injuries and varicose ulcers. 29 Thermal action of ultrasound In US therapy, thermal dissipation of acoustic energy takes place. Tissue heating depends on physical properties of tissue and its blood supply. The highest heating appears at the interfaces between tissues of very different acoustic impedances. The thermal action of US cannot be considered without respect to other healing mechanisms (micro-massage etc.) 30 Ultrasound - THERAPY ultrazvuk_v sonic15 sonopuls491UZ sonopuls591UZ Adobe Systems 31 Effects of magnetic fields - magnetotherapy ̶Basic concepts: magnetic fields: static, alternating and pulsed. Homogeneous and non-homogeneous magnetic fields. ̶Magnetic flux density B depends on the magnetic permeability of the medium m: m = mr.m0 ̶Ferromagnetic substances - mr >>1. ̶Diamagnetic substances - mr is slightly lower than 1 ̶Paramagnetic substances - mr is slightly higher than 1. (m0 is permeability of vacuum – 4p·10-7 N·A-2) ̶Body tissues are composed almost only from diamagnetic and paramagnetic substances. Magnetic fields can induce electric voltages and currents in biological medium (due to action of Lorentz force on moving electrical charges, or by action of Faraday force in varying magnetic fields). The induced voltages are, of course, substantially lower than the membrane potentials. Adobe Systems 32 Magnetomechanical and magnetochemical effects ̶In a strong mg field, the diamagnetic and paramagnetic molecules orient themselves to minimise their free energy. In non-homogeneous fields with big gradients, a translation movement of ferromagnetic compounds takes place (in living organisms negligible). A strong mg field (over 1 T) would reduce the flow rate of laminar streaming in a tube. ̶Further, it is necessary to consider indirect action as well, mediated by free radicals arising because of magnetochemical reactions. ̶We can say that a stable magnetic field of high intensity inhibits metabolic processes, but a varying one stimulates them. These changes are transient. ̶The interactions of magnetic fields with human tissues are utilised in both diagnostics and therapy. Magnetotherapy is an example of healing procedure. Magnetic stimulation of brain can be used both in diagnostics and therapy. [USEMAP] 33 Magnets in medicine Transcranial magnetic stimulation biotesla_2000 BiStim Module mesmtub Magnetotherapy Biomagnetism quackery of Franz Messmer 200 years ago 34 Phototherapy Ultraviolet (UV), visible (VIS) and infrared (IR) light sources are commonly used in medicine, namely in physical therapy. brdk-uvl solux [USEMAP] Adobe Systems 35 Light radiation ̶ultraviolet (UV) 1- 380 nm: UV-A 380 - 315 nm UV-B 315 - 280 nm UV-C 280 - 190 nm ̶visible (VIS) 380 - 780 nm ̶infrared (IR) 0.780 - 1 mm: IR-A 0.78 – 1.4 µm IR-B 1.4 – 3.0 µm IR-C 3.0 µm – 1.0 mm ̶From a practical point of view, the ultraviolet range begins from the wavelength of 190 nm. The spectral range 1 - 190 nm is so called vacuum UV radiation. It is attenuated strongly even by air and hence its biological effects are rare. Adobe Systems 36 Sources of light ̶The only natural source is the Sun. ̶The other sources are artificial and each of them emits only one part of the optical spectrum: ØHot objects. The wavelength of radiation depends on source temperature, its spectrum is continuous. Light bulbs and various sources of radiant heat. ØLuminescent sources (fluorescent lamps and tubes). They are based on excitation processes in atoms and molecules. Spectrum of these sources can consist of individual spectrum lines. ØBoth these sources emit non-coherent radiation. ̶The only artificial source of intense coherent light is the laser. 37 1919%20fremont%20street%20neon Sources of visible light lamps laser-coh http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/predict.shtml http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/images/ssn_predict_l.gif Adobe Systems 38 Molecular mechanisms of biological effects of light ̶Energy of single atoms depends on its electron configuration. Delivery of energy causes electron jumps to higher energy levels (DEe) – an excited state arises. Absorption spectrum is not continuous. The excitation takes place mainly in the valence shell. ̶Energetic states DE of a single molecule are, in principle, sums of electron energies DEe corresponding to the electron configuration, vibration energy DEn and rotation energy DEr : DE = DEe + DEn + Der ̶All the three kinds of energy are quantised. The action of the radiation depends on photon energy. The lowest energy have photons of IR-C, it corresponds to the changes of rotation energy of molecules. The energy of IR-B and IR-A photons can influence both the vibration and rotation of molecules. The energy of VIS and UV photons can influence rotation, vibration and also electron configuration. 39 Effects of visible light Photosynthesis ?biochemistry Photoreception ?biophysics of vision S_rhodopsin 180px-Simple_photosynthesis_overview_svg Photosynthesis splits water to liberate O2 and fixes CO2 into sugar From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Adobe Systems 40 Molecular effects of ultraviolet radiation ̶Considering compounds of biological importance, the most sensitive are those with conjugated double bonds. ̶In proteins, the most sensitive amino acids are tyrosine and tryptophan. (abs. maximum around 280 nm). ̶In NA, the N-bases are sensitive. Their absorbance is higher than the absorbance of proteins, maximum at 240-290 nm. ̶UV radiation penetrates only into the surface layers of the skin ̶The skin effect of UV light manifests itself as reddening – erythema – followed by melanin pigmentation Þ protecting mechanism against further penetration of UV. Synthesis of vitamin D which controls metabolism of Ca and P (its lack causes rickets - rachitis), is an important positive effect of UV light. We cannot also exclude the carcinogenic effect of UV since almost 90% of skin cancer appears on uncovered areas of the skin. Adobe Systems 41 Sources of ultraviolet radiation ̶Sun ̶Mercury discharge tube (used in medicine) ̶Hydrogen or deuterium discharge tubes (used in research) ̶Xenon lamp ̶Electric arc, lightning etc. ̶Some lasers Adobe Systems 42 Penetration of UV radiation fig1 [USEMAP] 43 Effects of ultraviolet radiation on living organisms Sunburns - erythema Effects on eye: blepharospasm (uncontrollable closure of eye lids) – originates due to damage of cornea by UV radiation. Þ protection by goggles with UV filter. Lens cataract can arise (Fig.↓) UV-C with wavelength below 280 nm has outstanding bactericidal action. Þ sterilisation of labs, special boxes and surgery rooms. sunburn cataract%20eye 23promo1 Adobe Systems 44 Sources and effects of infrared light ̶All the three ranges of IR radiation have thermal effects. •IR-A is involved in sun light. It passes through glass and is only little absorbed by water. •IR-B is emitted from various lamps and discharge tubes. It passes through glass but is well absorbed by water. •IR-C is emitted from heater, hot bodies, humans…. Absorbed by glass and water. ̶Almost all IR radiation is absorbed by skin. It causes local vasodilatation and thermal erythema which looks like diffuse red patterns and, in contrary to the erythema caused by UV light, its duration is short. Pigmentation is very weak. The irradiation by IR light, however, increases skin sensitivity to the UV light. ̶A long exposure of eyes to the IR radiation can cause in some professions (glass-blowers, founders, smelters, steelmen etc.) the so called heat cataract (opacity of the lens). Adobe Systems 45 IR radiation heat transfer Heat action of the visible and IR light from artificial sources: ̶Lamp boxes – radiation heat in enclosed space. Skin receptors are stimulated, whole-body heating occurs. ̶IR lamps: Solux, Sirius - high-power lamps with blue or red filters, radiators of IR light. The radiation is absorbed mainly in body surface. Used mainly in dermatology, ORL and dentistry. Skin receptors are stimulated, suggestive feeling of heat, reflex vasodilatation and muscular relaxation takes place. Adobe Systems 46 Lowering light intensity to 35 % of original value newsf17 Penetration of IR radiation http://www.depilazione.net/news4.htm 47 Thermal Erythema Thermal erythema – erythema because of excessive use of electric pad - BACK: erythema ab igne http://dermatlas.med.jhmi.edu/derm/Display.cfm?ImageName=EAB Adobe Systems 48 Summary – effects of light fig13a Adobe Systems Author: Vojtěch Mornstein Content collaboration and language revision: Ivo Hrazdira, Carmel J. Caruana Last revision September 2024