INTRODUCTION
INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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On a typical day as a physiotherapist, you suggest that a patient finish their treatment with ice on their knee injury; however, the patient sighs and says they wish it were heat. How do you proceed?
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Educate them on the benefits of ice for their condition and why you, as the informed clinician, want them to use it.
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Change your mind and apply heat instead, as the patient knows their own body and should be able to dictate what modality (ice or heat) is applied.
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Consult with other physiotherapists and health care providers in your clinic before proceeding.
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Change your mind and apply heat instead, as research indicates that abiding by patient preference for hot/cold will improve pain outcomes.
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Explanation:
Detailed explanation-1: -If the injury is to your thumb and therefore superficial then 2-4 minutes is sufficient. But for deeper structures such as your knee then 10-15 minutes. The maximum effect occurs at about 10-12 minutes so no longer than 15 minutes. The tissue will warm up again within a hour or two and lose its effect.
Detailed explanation-2: -Heat causes the blood vessels to open wide (dilate). This brings more blood into the area to stimulate the cellular healing process of damaged tissues. It has a direct soothing effect and helps to relieve pain and spasm. It can also ease stiffness by making the tissues more supple.
There is 1 question to complete.