Physical therapy is a branch of medicine that avails of physical energy (electrical, electromagnetic and mechanical) for healing purposes.
INSTRUMENTAL PHYSICAL THERAPY
Electric currents of T.E.N.S.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.
It is based on a flow of electric waves that are transmitted through the skin in order to create a stimulation of micropulses giving an analgesic effect. It is generally used to treat acute and chronic pain.
Tecarterapia®
This is a patented device that calls the electric charges into a certain compartment, increasing the natural metabolic processes, allowing restoration of the tissue physiology with the aim of increasing the local temperature in the tissues by using long waves. The treatment length varies with the area and the disease to be treated and consists in a “massage” performed by the T.E.C.A.R® licensed operator using a ceramic electrode for the capacitive system or in metal for the resistive system.
The major indications are:
-posttraumatic disorders (muscle lesions, sprains, muscle tears);
-tendinitis, tenosynovitis, impingement syndromes;
-dermatology: scars and cheloids;
- post-surgery for arthro-endo prosthesis;
-primary and secondary lymphedema, venous stasis;
-neurovegetative syndromes (algodystrophy of Suddek).
Diadynamic
Unidirectional and emi-sinusoidal low-frequency diadynamic currents.
This programme has different types of current (long period, short period, diphase, monophase, etc.) for a minimum time of 15 minutes. Generally used for the treatment of acute and chronic pain.
INTERFERENTIAL Electrotherapy
Low-frequency bidirectional endogenous current.
Used in cases of pain in acute or chronic stages.
Electrostimulation with Compex® constant pulses
Excitomotor current capable of producing a muscle contraction resembling a voluntary one. It is an electro-medical device with external memory cards.
It is mainly advisable for:
- muscle hypotrophy-hypotonia;
- muscle strengthening from immobility;
- nerve stimulation.
Galvanotherapy
Direct current.
The main indications are:
-hand and foot arthritis diseases;
-rheumatism-based acute and subacute inflammation of the small joints.
Iontophoresis
Galvanic current that transcutaneously introduces a drug into the area affected by disease.
The action comes from the drug carried by the current.
It is indicated for:
-arthrosis, arthritis, bursitis;
-posttraumatic outcomes;
-tendinitis, outcomes of sprains;
- neuralgia.
Laser therapy
"Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation",This is physical therapy that employees laser energy to activate the body’s natural defenses and reactions through biostimulation.
Low-power lasers are employed in the therapeutic field for their analgesic, anti-inflammatory and biostimulative effects.
It is advisable for:
- arthro- rheumatic diseases: gonalgia, myositis, rhizarthrosis, acromioclavicular syndromes;
- traumatic diseases: tendinitis, bursitis, sprains, pulls;
- dermatological diseases: scars, venous edemas, the effects of phlebitis, dermatosis, varicose ulcers;
- post-fracture diseases: algodystrophy (Sudeck's syndrome).
Magnetic therapy
Physical therapy that avails of the biological effects induced in the tissues by application of pulsed magnetic fields, generally low frequency (C.E.M.P.) generated at various frequencies and intensities. It is advisable for fractures, delayed consolidation, pseudo-arthrosis, necrosis, osteo-chondrosis, osteoporosis, arthrosis, ulcers, ulcers from decubitus, recent injuries and cheloids.
Shortwave therapy
In shortwave therapy the electromagnetic waves of the frequency band of the microwaves are used to get a painkiller effect. It is advisable for painful and rheumatic conditions prevalently of a degenerative type, on all levels especially in large joints and in the spine, and muscle diseases of a hypertrophic nature.
Neck and lumbar tractions
Tractions are an application of forces that act on cervical and lumbar segments of the spinal column in opposite directions, continuous and discontinuous by means of special inversion seats or benches. They are particularly advisable for rachialgia with discal etiology.
Ultrasound therapy
Ultrasounds are high-frequency vibrations that can’t be heard by the human ear.
They are divided up into:
Contact ultrasound: application of the transducer directly in contact with the skin
Immersion ultrasound: has the part to be treated immersed in a container of water that the transducer is placed in.
The ultrasound can’t be used for analgesic, decompressive and antidematogenic action.
Infrared rays
Is radiation in sunlight and are produced artificially with specific lamps. Therapeutic action: acceleration of the metabolism, increase in tissue temperature encouraging muscles to relax.
Shock waves, also called ESWT (EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK WAVE THERAPY)
A device that uses the pneumatic ballistic principle.
A noninvasive therapy, its effectiveness is correlated to two effects:
- direct effect of the shock on the tissue in the target area and in association with reflex phenomena, more accentuated in the points of passage between soft tissues (tendons, muscles) and more compact tissues (bones);
- cavitation effect caused by the depression following the shock, which overcomes the elastic characteristics of the tissue.
Particularly advisable for:
- epicondylitis, epitrochleitis;
- heel spurs;
- calcareous tendinosis of the shoulder;
- heel diseases;
- joint tendinosis.
VASCULAR REHABILITATION
Pressotherapy
This is a device that removes the interstitial excess fluid and encourages venous-lymphatic return, while respecting the physiology of circulation and its anatomical structures by means of inflatable cuffs that are applied to different parts of the body and to which a variable dynamic pressure is transmitted based on the disease. The inflatable elements create a constant compression “massage” which gets gentler as you go from bottom to top to drain fluids.
Particularly advisable for:
-phlebolymphatic diseases;
-primary and secondary lymphedema;
-outcomes of already scarred ulcers;
-circulatory insufficiency;
-varices and extrasaphenous varicose veins;
-plastic and reconstructive surgery;
-posttraumatic edemas.
Manual lymphatic drainage
The manual lymphatic drainage (or lymphatic drainage) is a massage technique comprised of a combination of precise and codified manual movements that use light pressure on the patient’s skin with the aim of accelerating the lymphatic outflow from the areas of stasis toward the drainage channels so as to free the tissue interstice from the fluids that have gathered there.
The main field of application of manual lymphatic drainage is treatment of the lymphedema, whether primitive or secondary, but also in the vascular, orthopaedic, or dermatological field, in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Indications:
Lymphedema of the limbs
Phlebedema
Posttraumatic or post surgery edema
Algodystrophy
Edematofibrosclerotic panniculitis
Ulcers from decubitus
Outcome of mastectomy and quadrantectomy surgery
Treatment of burns and tissue transplants
Post plastic and reconstructive surgery
Timing: Treatment times vary based on the disease
The information given on the website does not in any case replace the clinical consultancy provided by the general physician or the specialist. That given on the website is solely for general information.