SHORT-WAVE DIATHERMY

ELECTROTHERAPY FUNDAMENTALS II
Course Code BPT204

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 Introduction
• Diathermy is electrically induced heat or the use of high frequency
electromagnetic current as a form physical therapy.
• The term ‘diathermy’ means ‘through heating’ or producing deep heating
directly in the tissues of the body.
Dia – through (also means two)
Thermy – heat or temperature
• Short wave means the use of radio waves of shot wavelength.
• SWD is deep heating modality that produce high frequency alternating current with
freq. between 107-108 Hz, that set up wireless wave with wavelength between
30-3m.
• For the therapeutic purpose SWD freq. 27.12 Hz and wavelength 11.06m.
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Production of SWD
The system consist of
two circuit.
• Oscillator Circuit
(Machine Circuit)
Block Diagram of SWD
• Resonator Circuit
(Patient Circuit)
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 Production
•

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 Production
• Main supply: It is connected with AC mains that gives 220 or 240 volts
and frequency of 50 cycles/second.
• Transformer: There are two types :
a. Step down transformer: The secondary coil of which is connected
with the filament of the triode valve and produces a potential of 20
volts.
b. Step up transformer: The secondary coil of this transformer is
connected with the oscillator circuit and the triode valve.

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• Triode valve: This is the thermionic valve, which allows electrons to flow
in one direction. When the current flows through the filament electron
are emitted by thermionic emission from the cathode, it moves towards
the anode. The grid of the triode valve is connected with the grid leak
resistance which acts as a regulator to the flow of the current, i.e. when
positive allows flow of current and negative stops the current flow.
• Grid leak resistance: It consists of a resistance coil connected to the grid
of the triode valve at one end and the filament of the cathode at the
other.
• Oscillator: It consists of a stable condenser and an oscillator coil, which
gives high frequency oscillating currents to the resonator circuit.
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Production
Circuit Diagram
Triode Valve

C A
G

Step Down
Transformer

Step Up
Transformer

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Production
• Resonator Circuit (Patient Circuit):
• It lies parallel to the oscillator circuit. It consists of:
(a) Resonator coil
(b) Variable condenser
(c) Electrodes
(d) Ammeter
(e) Tissue

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Production
• Resonator coil: The high frequency current from the oscillator, flows in the
resonator coil by electromagnetic induction.
• Variable condenser: It is used for tuning the machine and the patient's
circuit for having maximum transfer of energy to the patient through
resonance.
• Electrodes: The outputs of the SWD machine is connected to the electrodes
which are positioned on the body tissue to be treated. They are:
a. Pad electrodes
b. Disc electrodes
c. Cable electrode
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Production
• Ammeter/Neon lamp: This shows maximum reading when the
oscillator circuit and the resonator circuit resonate.
• Tissue: The parts of the body between the two electrodes form
the dielectric of a condenser, where charges concentrate due to
electrostatic field, to effect the tissues by causing dipole rotation,
ionic vibration, and molecular distortion and hence producing heat
in the body tissue.

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Transmission of High Frequency Currents (Short Wave) into
the Tissues

Effect of Electric Field in the Tissue –

A – vibration of ion
B – dipole rotation
C – molecular distortion
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Physiological Effect
• Direct Effects –
1. Increased metabolism
2. Increased blood supply
• Indirect effect –
1. General rise in the temp
2. Effect on the muscle tissue
3. Fall in BP
4. Increased activity of sweat gland

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Uses
• In inflammation – Chronic RA, OA, Tendonitis, Capsulitis, Pelvic
Inflammatory Disease.
• During Bacterial Infection – Abscess, Boils,
• Traumatic Condition – Recent Ankle Injury, Meniscus Injury,
Periarthritis Shoulder, Post-Traumatic Stiffness of Knee
• For Pain Relief – LBA, Myofascial Pain
• For Muscle Relaxation – Spasm

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Method Of Application Of SWD
• Condenser Field Method
a. Contra-planer method
b. Co-planer method
c. Cross-fire method
d. Mono-planer method
• Cable Method

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Condenser Method
Size of Electrode:

Small size electrode causing a superficial

heating due to concentration of field at
Electrode of different size Displays wasting of the part of
the superficial tissue under the
the field due to very large
electrodes
electrode

Displays the tissue being in the central Correct Size of Electrode

uniform part of electric fields

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Condenser Method
Electrode Spacing:
• The spacing between the electrodes and the
patients tissue should be a wide as the
output of machine allows, and materials
between the skin and the electrode should Displays a uniform field due to wide spacing
be low di-electric constant.
• Skin electrode should be 2-4 cm.
• Factor that influence field distribution in
SWD –
1. Normal spacing – Even Field Distribution
2. Wide spacing – Deep Field Concentration
3. Narrow spacing – Superficial Field
Concentration
Displays a concentration of field close to
electrodes due to narrow spacing
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Methods of Electrode Positioning
Contra-planer Method
• It is particularly used for the treatment of deeply placed structures in the trunk and joints
of the limbs.
• In this method, the electrodes are placed on opposite aspects of the body part to be
treated.
• Example : Placement of electrodes for the treatment of shoulder dysfunction.

A – Correct electrode spacing (parallel to skin)

B – Incorrect spacing 17
Cont…
Co-planer Method
• The electrodes are placed side-by-side, parallel to the surface
on one of the aspects of the body.
• The heating effect is less than that of the contra-planar
method.
• It works more on heating of the superficial tissues. e.g. the
spinal muscles when applied for back and neck.
A – correct spacing
• While placing the electrode, the distance between the two
electrodes (S) > (S1 + S2). Where, B – incorrect spacing so that no tissue
is affected
S1 = distance of first electrode from skin.
S2 = distance of second electrode from skin.
• E.g., Placement of the electrodes for the back, to treat low
back pain

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Cont…
Cross-fire Method
In this method, half of the treatment is given with the
electrodes in one position, and then the arrangement
is changed so that the electric field lies at right angles
to that obtained during the first part of the treatment.
This method is selected when circumferential heating,
as in treating the knee joint (post traumatic
dysfunction with painful movement limitation).
Cross fire method to treat sinuses
Also in case of treatment of cavities such as the
frontal, maxillary and ethmoidal sinuses for sinusitis.
This method is very suitable for the treatment of
deeply placed structures, e.g, the pelvic organs in
pelvic inflammatory disease, Burger's disease.
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Cont…
Mono-planer
For treatment of area affecting one aspect of body which is localized.
E.g., Tennis elbow (one electrode is placed directly over the affected
part and other electrode can be placed over some other area or may
not be used at all.

Mono-planer electrode placing

producing a radial electrical field
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Cable Method (Inductothermy)
• It uses magnetic induction to
produce small eddy currents in the
tissues, which increase tissue
temperature.
• Two different applicators are used
in this method. The Circuploded

• Most commonly used:

An inductive coil applicator
(circuplode).
Wrapping insulated cable around
the limb to be treated. Generation of magnetic field and function of
eddy current by cable
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Cable Method (Inductothermy)
• In this method, a flexible cable of the length of half the
wavelength of the emitted short waves (5.53 m, if the
wavelength is 11.06 m) are used, which is fixed for the
particular machine.
• The cable is either coiled or made into flat helices.
• When high frequency current is passed through such a
cable, an electrostatic field is set up between the ends and
an electromagnetic field is set up at the center.
• When the cable is wound like a straight spring over the
part treated, there occur small capacitive effects between Effects at the ends and the center of
each turn of the coil, and large capacitive effects between the cable
it's ends, where as the center of the turns have inductive
effects.

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Cable Method (Inductothermy)
• In a flat helix, called magna plate or the
grid arrangement, the ends of the cable
are connected to the machine, where
as the central part is used to treat large
and flat areas. A – Single helix with the ring like heating pattern due
to eddy current.
B– The grid arrangement
• In some situations, the cable is used in
the shape of a double helix, where
eddy currents are produced in the
tissues lying between the two helices,
so causing a heating effect in this area. A– Production of eddy current by the magnetic field
between two helices,
B– Production of heat in the central shaded area
between the helices
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Dosages of SWD
• Acute Conditions –
Intensity: Nonthermal dose (imperceptible warmth).
Duration: 10 minutes is probably sufficient, though some also apply for
longer time.
• Subacute Conditions –
Intensity: Very mild thermal dose (minimal perceptible warmth)/mild
thermal dose (mild warmth)
Duration: 10-15 minutes.
• Chronic Conditions –
Intensity: Thermal dose (moderate warmth)
Duration: 20 minutes.

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Danger
• Burn
• Scalds
• Overdose
• Precipitation of gangrene
• Electric shock
• Faintness
• Damage to the eyes
• Damage to the equipment

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Contraindication
• Implanted pacemaker
• Impaired thermal sensation
• Metal and tissue
• Pregnancy
• Hemorrhage
• Ischemic tissue
• Malignant tumor
• Recent radiography
• Growing epiphysis
• Venous thrombosis
• Active TB
• Over the eyes

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Useful Links
[Link]
Research Article:
[Link]
01881

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 Reference
• Textbook of Clayton’s Electrotherapy Theory and Practice by Angela
Forster and Nigel Palastanga 9th ed.
• Textbook of Electrotherapy Simplified by Basant Kumar Nanda 3rd ed.

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THANK YOU

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