Modality: Short Wave Diathermy

General Indications for Use: ● In general, used when you want to heat deeper and larger areas than
ultrasound.1
● Facial nerve (Bell’s) palsy1
○ Lesion on Cranial Nerve 7, affecting the eye and lips
ipsilaterally. Causes inability to close affected side eye and
turn up affected side corner of mouth.
● Lateral epicondylitis1
○ Inflammation of the common extensor tendons in the forearm
at the point in which the extensor tendons come together.
● Rheumatoid Arthritis1,2
○ Autoimmune disease that targets the synovial tissue and joints,
causing swelling and pain.

Precautions: ● Impaired circulation1

○ The metabolic response that is caused by heating up the tissue
may be too much to handle for some people if circulation is
impaired.
● Atrophic, infected, or damaged skin1
○ Specifically for thermal diathermy. Possible intolerance to
heat and skin infections are something to be aware of. If
severe, classified as a contraindication.
● Decreased Sensation1
○ May not allow patients to recognize when tissue is getting too
hot. To avoid this, start at a lower level and work your way up.

Contraindications: ● Cancerous tissues1

○ Heating tissues will encourage break up and spread of
cancerous tissues.
● Pregnancy1
○ It has not been studied the effects diathermy would have on
babies, therefore the effects are unknown and possibly
harmful.
● Hemorrhage or increased tendency of hemorrhage1
○ May cause increased risk of hemorrhage as heat vasodilates
the blood causing it to pool faster.
Evidence-Supported ● Neuromuscular shortwave diathermy electrical stimulation in
Diagnoses/Presentations for Use: unrecovered Bell palsy patients3
(With each diagnosis or presentation, ○ After four weeks of treatment patients did not show
please also indicate the settings and significant increases within their resting symmetry but did
parameters that are best suited for the show a significant increase in symmetry of voluntary
modality application.) movements.
○ Patients were treated with a bipolar hand-piece that stimulated
short-waves and low frequencies, generating a current that
acted like 2 plates of a condenser for short-wave diathermy.
The electrodes were placed on three muscles; orbicularis oris,
zygomaticus, and frontalis.
○ Electrical stimulation was provided with a fixed 80Hz and
pulse duration of 700 microseconds. Intensity started at .5mA
with a gradual increase until slight muscle contractions.
○ Subjects received treatment for 30 minute sessions for 5
sessions a week for a total of four weeks. During their
short-wave diathermy treatments patients were also receiving
therapeutic massage, breathing and relaxation exercises for
opening and closing eyes and lips.
● Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease4,5
○ Shortwave Diathermy in the Symptomatic Management of
Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Pelvic Disease Pain:
Randomized Control Trial4
■ After 30 days of short-wave diathermy treatment a
total of 32 participants showed a significant decrease
in laboratory results of pus cells. Also, treatment
showed a significant decrease in pain index scores.
■ Treatment was provided alternating days for a total of
15 exposures. Treatment time was split into two
sessions of 10-minutes per session in crossfire
positions for a total of 20 minutes.
■ The short-wave diathermy group within this study
received an intensity of moderate warmth dose 3.
Treatment was provided antero-posteriorly through the
pelvis with patients in supine in the first half of
treatment. In the second half of treatments patients
were side lying with legs curled up with treatment
provided over pelvic outlets and lumbo-sacral area in
the spine.
 ○ Short Wave Diathermy in the Management of Chronic Pelvic
Inflammatory Disease: Case Reports5
■ Three patients all diagnosed with chronic Pelvic
Inflammatory Disease were treated using short-wave
diathermy (SWD) to determine the therapeutic effect
of the SWD in decreasing their symptoms of pain with
the use of the visual analog scale (VAS). Each patient
showed pus and blood cells with the first patient
reporting a 6 on the VAS, second reported a 7 on the
VAS and the third reported a 6 on the VAS. Patients
did report being on antibiotics during treatment.
■ Treatment was provided in a crossfire technique
splitting the treatment into two sessions. First
treatment was provided antero-posteriorly through the
pelvis with patients in lying positions. Second
treatment was provided with the patient's side lying
with legs curled and treatment placed over pelvic
outlets and lumbosacral area of the spine.
■ Treatment was given every two days alternating with a
total of 15 exposures. Duration of treatment was a total
of 30 minutes with each position lasting for 15 minutes
due to crossfire technique.
■ After treatment period and 7 days after final
short-wave diathermy treatment all patients reported a
0 on the VAS. There was also a follow up assessment
conducted three months after. First and second patients
reported a 0. While the third reported a 3 on the VAS,
this patient was still on antibiotics and analgesics.
● Chronic low back pain6,7
○ Effects of Exercise and Shortwave Diathermy Treatment on
the Quality of Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain6
■ This study consisted of 90 patients who were admitted
to a clinic for low back pain that was present for at
least 6 months. They were randomly divided into 3
treatment groups: placebo shortwave, continuous short
wave diathermy, and pulsed shortwave diathermy.
■ Treatment consisted of a placebo shortwave for the
first group in which the devices were turned off during
their treatment period. The second group received a
continuous shortwave diathermy (21.12 MHz, 11.06 m
 wavelength, 200 W) for 20 minutes every day for a
period of 15 days. The last group received a pulsed
shortwave diathermy treatment (27.12 MHz, 11.06 m
wavelength, 200 W, .3 msec pause) for 20 minutes
during a 15 day period. All participants were given
back school therapy and additional home exercise
programs.
■ All three groups showed significant improvement in
physical function, role limitations due to physical
issues, and body pain criteria. Those participants who
received either the continuous or pulsed shortwave
diathermy had an increased mean score in terms of all
three categories.
○ Comparative study of short wave diathermy and exercise
together and exercise alone in the management of chronic
back pain7
■ This study consisted of 40 patients from a nursing
home with an age range of 25-65 years old. All
participants were diagnosed with low back pain with
onset of greater than 1-3 months. They were randomly
assigned to either the SWD and exercise group or the
exercise only group.
■ Treatment consisted of a 15 minute session 3 times a
week for 6 weeks. The SWD group was given
treatment with the frequency of 27.33 MHz and the
condenser technique was used in the application
process. The placebo group received the same
treatment and set up but without heat being applied.
■ Both groups showed significant improvement in the
reduction of lower back pain via VAS and MPQ pain
scales. The SWD treatment group showed greater
improvement compared to the exercise only group
when compared to the participants initial pretreatment
VAS and MPQ pain scale measurements.

Evidence-Supported List of Diagnoses ● Ulnar nerve entrapment8

for Which the Modality Would Be ○ Study included 76 adult patients diagnosed with ulnar nerve
Inappropriate: (Cite evidence) entrapment at the elbow.
○ Patients were evaluated at baseline, after completing
treatment, and 1 and 3 months after treatment.
 ○ Measures included a physical examination, quick-DASH
(disabilities of arm, shoulder, hand) a SF-36 (short form)
questionnaires for daily life activities, dynamometer for grip
strength, and visual analog scale for pain
○ The group that received shortwave diathermy received it 5
times a week for 2 weeks
○ There were no differences between the SWD group and the
control group when comparing the visual analog scale,
quick-DASH, SF-36 questionnaire, and dynamometer.
● Neck pain described on Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire9
○ 350 individuals with neck pain were recruited to this study
from 15 physical therapy departments.
○ Randomized groups included advice and exercise plus manual
therapy, advice and exercise plus SWD, or advice and exercise
alone.
○ Primary outcome used was the Northwick Park Neck Pain
Questionnaire.
○ There were no significant differences found between groups,
indicating that advice and exercise alone works as well as
advice and exercise plus manual therapy or advice and
exercise plus SWD.
● Osteoarthritis in the knee10
○ Compared to ice
■ 14 patients diagnosed with OA were assigned to either
SWD or ice treatment groups.
■ Outcomes were pain by the visual analog scale, ROM,
and functional index questionnaire.
■ At the end of the study, there were no statistically
significant differences between the ice group and the
SWD group, and ice would be the more cost effective
option for treatment of OA.
● Myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome11
○ 120 patients with the chief complaint of pain and muscle
tenderness were divided into equal groups and treated with
either muscle relaxant drugs, short wave diathermy, or
ultrasonic therapy.
○ Conclusions of the study revealed that of the three modalities,
ultrasonic therapy obtained the best results.
● Cervical Spondylosis12
 ○ A quasi experimental study was performed on 50 patients,
between the ages 41 to 60 years, who had radicular pain due
to cervical spondylosis at C5-C6.
○ Participants were divided into two equal groups, one received
mechanical cervical traction, and the other received manual
therapy including a baseline treatment of shortwave diathermy
for 15 minutes and ultrasonic therapy for 7 minutes.
○ Treatment duration consisted of twelve 30 minute sessions
three times a week.
○ Compared to mechanical tractions, manual therapy was
proven ineffective for patients with radicular pain at C5-C6
due to cervical spondylosis.

References
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Therapist. 5th ed. Elsevier; 2021. Accessed November 10, 2022.
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3. Marotta N, Demeco A, Inzitari MT, Caruso MG, Ammendolia A. Neuromuscular electrical
stimulation and shortwave diathermy in unrecovered Bell palsy. Medicine (Baltimore).
2020;99(8):e19152. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000019152
4. Lamina S, Hanif S, Gagarawa YS. Short wave diathermy in the symptomatic management of
chronic pelvic inflammatory disease pain: A randomized controlled trial. Physiother Res Int.
2011;16(1):50-56. doi:10.1002/pri.473
5. S L, Hanif S. Shortwave diathermy in the management of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease
pain: case reports. J Niger Soc Physiother. 2008;16(1):31-37. Accessed November 10, 2022.
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190793591&sid=googleScholar&linkaccess=abs
6. Karasel S, Oncel S, Sonmez I. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
Famagusta State Hospital, Famagusta, Cyprus, Karasel S, Oncel S, Department of Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dokuz Eylul University Hospital, Izmir, Turkey, Sonmez I,
Department of Pschiatry, Near East University Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus. The Effect of
Exercise and Shortwave Diathermy Treatment on the Quality of Life of Patients with Chronic
Low Back Pain. Cyprus J Med Sci. 2020;5(3):205-210. doi:10.5152/cjms.2020.1038
7. Khan S, Shamsi S, Abdelkader S. Comparative study of short wave diathermy and exercise
together and exercise alone in the management of chronic back pain. Int J Health Sci.
2013;(9):7.
8. Bilgin Badur N, Unlu Ozkan F, Aktas I. Efficacy of shortwave diathermy in ulnar nerve
entrapment at the elbow: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial. Clin Rehabil.
2020;34(8):1048-1055. doi:10.1177/0269215520930062
9. Dziedzic K, Hill J, Lewis M, Sim J, Daniels J, Hay EM. Effectiveness of manual therapy or
pulsed shortwave diathermy in addition to advice and exercise for neck disorders: A
pragmatic randomized controlled trial in physical therapy clinics. doi:10.1002/art.21087
10. Adegoke BOA, Gbeminiyi MO. Efficacy of ice and shortwave diathermy in the management
of osteoarthritis on the knee - A preliminary. Afr J Biomed Res. 2004;7(2).
doi:10.4314/ajbr.v7i2.54069
11. Talaat AM, El-Dibany MM, El-Garf A. Physical therapy in the management of myofacial
pain dysfunction syndrome. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1986;95(3):225-228.
doi:10.1177/000348948609500303
12. Qayyum S, Waqas S, Asim HM. Outcomes of Mechanical Traction and Manual Therapy in
C5-C6 Cervical Spondylosis for Radicular Pain Relief. :3.