If you have a sore or stiff body part, applying heat will decrease discomfort and help regain soft tissue flexibility, joint mobility, and encourage blood flow. Warmth facilitates the release of toxins at a cellular level and reduces swelling and inflammation. Wet modalities such as paraffin dips, hot packs, and whirlpools are used commonly in physical therapy settings, but may involve a lot of post treatment cleanup. The patient cannot exercise during treatment with a hot pack or a paraffin dip, either. A newer technique involves using ultrasound waves to deliver dry heat at a deeper level to the affected areas. Another technique not as well known outside of medical circles is fluidotherapy.

Developed in the 1970's, fluidotherapy is used in physical therapy treatments when a patient needs a combination of massage and dry heat in order to regain mobility in a limb or extremity. The patient inserts the specified body part into a machine where cellulose particles are blown around in a stream of air heated to between 110-123 degrees. While undergoing treatment, the therapist leads the patient through a series of exercises to increase flexibility, strength, and motor coordination. Treatments usually last around 20 minutes.

                                                           

Rehabmart carries two models of fluidotherapy machines. The Chattanooga Fluidotherapy Model 110 is for use in treating the hand, foot, wrist, ankle, and elbow. The Chattanooga Double Extremity Fluidotherapy Model 115 is intended for treating both hands or feet at the same time. Features on both units include a programmable wake-up timer; a temperature control for up to 125 degrees; air flow velocity to control the speed of the cellulose medium particles; a pulse mode that increases the massaging action with intermittent bursts of pressure; and a treatment timer. Both models come with locking castors and the 115 may be removed from its base for easier lower extremity access. The 110 holds up to 30 pounds of the cellulose dry heat medium while the 115 holds up to 40 pounds. Both models come with a container of the dry heat medium, which is made from biodegradable and environmentally friendly organic and natural cellulose.

Fluidotherapy is suitable for patients suffering from both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis; recovering from joint replacement surgery; and other sub-acute and chronic conditions. Some experts also state that it can be used in cases where open wounds are involved if the wound is bandaged, the unit is operated at a lower temperature, and then the unit should be sterilized after treatment by running the unit at a high temperature.

While most patients find fluidotherapy helpful and therapeutic, occasionally one may feel claustrophobic during treatment or may be sensitive to the particulate matter. If a patient has problems with heat tolerance, is running a fever, has problems with uncontrolled bleeding, or has an area of the body under the effects of a local anesthetic, fluidotherapy is contraindicated.

Fran Jablway,
Medical Consumer Writer
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO