Endogenous thermotherapy in the treatment of sports-related overuse syndromes.
Authors: Attaccalite A, Pace P
Year: 1997
Source: Europa Medicophysica 33(1):45-51.
Abstract: Analysis of factors of sports activity functional overload, taking into account clinical aspects. Treatment using endogenous thermotherapy is also reviewed. Endogenous thermotherapy depends on producing heat within biological structures using alternate energy sources - electric and electromagnetic for shortwave and microwave, and acoustic for ultrasound. Heat produces the following biological effects: increased basal metabolism, increased flow of blood, vasodilatation and increased delivery of oxygen to tissues, as well as removal of catabolites, decrease in viscosity of colleganous fibers with greater extensibility, a decrease in medullary reflex excitability, along with stimulation of polimodal cutaneous receptors. These effects result in reduction of infiltrated and exudate edema, muscle contracture, stiffness and pain in joints. Fully consolidated and accepted investigations are scarce, studies are poor in scientific content, resulting in empirism that characterizes these treatment modalities. Treatment protocols need to be standardized. Larger populations need to be studied and scientifically valid indications need to be obtained. (CIRRIE Abstract)
Institution: Operative Unit of Functional Rehab., INRCA, Ancona, Italy
Language: English
Subject headings: Abstracts, Females, Injuries, Outcome, Parents, Physiology, Sports, Therapy