PTA 105 - Physical Agents I

Credits: 1

Provides the theory and principles of modalities including, but not limited to, hydrotherapy, therapeutic massage, thermal agents, cryotherapy and ultrasound. Prepares the student to perform therapeutic interventions under the direction and supervision of the physical therapist.

Prerequisite(s): PTA 101, PTA 101LW, PTA 103, PTA 110, PTA 110L, PTA 118, PTA 121 each with a minimum grad of “C” (2.0).
Corequisite(s): PTA 102, PTA 105LW, PTA 120, PTA 120L, PTA 123LW, PTA 123W, PTA 124, PTA 125, PTA 125LW
Lecture Hours: 15 Lab Hours: 0
Meets MTA Requirement: None
Pass/NoCredit: No

Outcomes and Objectives 1. Demonstrate understanding of the basics of energy transfer and how various physical agents affect human tissue.

A. Differentiate between treatments which affect superficial and deep tissues of the human body: neck, back, upper extremity, lower extremity, supine, prone, side lying.

B. Differentiate between the different modes of heat transfer including evaporation, convection, conduction, radiation, and conversion.

C. Give specific examples of common physical agents and their mode of heat transfer.

2. Demonstrate understanding of the theory of moist heat and its application to patient treatment.

A. List the physiological effects of heat.

B. List the indications, contraindications, and precautions for usage of moist heat on patients.

C. Discuss the mode of heat transfer that occurs with moist heat.

3. Demonstrate understanding of the theory of cryotherapy and its application to patient treatment.

A. List the physiological effects of cold.

B. Distinguish between the indications, contraindications, and precautions for usage of cryotherapy on patient.

C. Discuss the mode of heat transfer with cryotherapy: size, patient position, towel wrap, hot pack placement

D. Discuss the physiological effects of contrast bath procedure on human tissue.

4. Demonstrate understanding of the theory of ultrasound and its application to patient treatment.

A. List the physiological effects of ultrasound.

B. List the indications, contraindications, and precautions for ultrasound use in humans.

C. Distinguish between the indications, contraindications, and precautions for usage of ultrasound on patients including: water, gel, lotion, medicated cream

D. Discuss the mode of heat transfer that occurs with ultrasound.

E. Compare and contrast the different mediums utilized with ultrasound including gel, water, lotion, and medicated cream.

F. Differentiate between the use of continuous versus pulsed ultrasound duty cycles and its effect on human tissues.

G. Provide rationale of use of different size ultrasound heads including: circular, transverse.

H. Differentiate between the use of 1 Mhz and 3 Mhz frequencies and its effect on human tissue.

I. Describe effective radiating area (ERA) and beam nonuniformity ratio (BNR)

5. Demonstrate understanding of the theory of therapeutic massage and its application to patient treatment.

A. Define massage.

B. State the physiological theory behind massage.

C. Describe each of the following massage techniques and its effect on human tissue including: effleurage, petrissage, friction massage, trigger point release, sub-occipital release

D. List the indications, contraindications, and precautions for massage use in humans including: trigger points, tendonitis.

E. Describe and provide rationale for each of the medium options for massage including: lotion, oil, powder, medicated creams.

6. Demonstrate understanding of the theory of paraffin and its application to patient treatment.

A. Define paraffin.

B. Explain the theory of paraffin.

C. List the physiological effects of paraffin.

D. List the indications, contraindications, and precautions for paraffin use in humans.

7. Demonstrate understanding of the theory of hydrotherapy and the application to patient treatment.

A. Define hydrotherapy.

B. Describe hydrotherapy equipment and the rationale for its use.

C. List the physiological effects of hydrotherapy.

D. List the indications, contraindications, and precautions for hydrotherapy use with humans.

E. List the specific temperature protocols for various problems encountered in physical therapy.

F. Recognize the need for direct versus indirect agitation in various diagnosis/conditions.

8. Demonstrate understanding of current physical therapy literature related to the use of physical agents.

A. Given a specific agent to research, find professional journal articles that have determined the effectiveness of various agents used currently in the physical therapy setting.

B. Summarize current literature in a 2-3-page paper.

9. Discuss potential legal and ethical issues pertaining to course content.

A. Describe an appropriate response to each legal/ethical clinical issue discussed in class.

10. Use appropriate action in emergency situations.

A. Initiate BLS procedures during mock emergency scenarios.

B. Participate in mock disaster drills.