Effect of Fluidotherapy on Superficial Radial Nerve Conduction and Skin Temperature

Abstract

Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the superficial heating modality, Fluidotherapy, on skin temperature and on sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) conduction latency and amplitude of the superficial radial nerve in healthy individuals. Background: Fluidotherapy is a dry, superficial heating modality, which also provides tactile stimulation through the bombardment of air-fluidized cellulose particles. Previous literature has documented a direct relationship between skin temperature and neural conduction velocity; however, there is an absence of published research examining the effects of Fluidotherapy, and of tactile stimulation specifically, on neural conduction. Methods and Measures: Twenty-one subjects between the ages of 22 and 31 years (mean ± SD, 25.5 ± 0.7 years) and without prior history of diabetes, alcoholism, renal or metabolic dysfunction, current pregnancy, or heat sensitivity were invited to participate. Subjects completed an upper quarter screening exam and medical history form prior to participation. One group underwent heat (46.7°C-48.9°C) and tactile stimulation, a second group underwent tactile stimulation alone, while a third served as controls. Dependent variables were assessed at 3 intervals: before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 20 minutes after the intervention. All interventions were 20 minutes in length. Results: A mixed 2-way analysis of variance indicated a significant interaction between time of neural conduction velocity assessment and treatment group for the dependent variables of sensory nerve action potential latency (PϽ .001) and skin temperature (PϽ .001). Appropriate post hoc tests were performed for simple effect comparisons. An inverse linear relationship existed between skin temperature and latency (r 2 = .65; Pearson product coefficient, -.81). Conclusions: Fluidotherapy treatment, which combines the effects of heat and tactile stimulation, significantly elevated superficial skin temperature, while tactile stimulation alone and no treatment (control group) did not bring about a temperature change. As the superficial skin temperature increased, there was a concomitant decrease in the distal sensory latency of the superficial radial sensory nerve action potential. These results should be an important consideration for the clinician using superficial heating modalities. J Orthop Sport Phys Ther 2005;35:16-23.

The effect of fluidotherapy on hand dexterity and activities of daily living in patients with edema on stroke

“…Therefore, it was used in this study to provide continuous thermal stimulation. Also, the temperature was set to 48 °C because it proved to be the most effective way to transmit heat to the soft tissues by 46.7–48.9 °C at clinical application temperature 15 ) . Thermal simulation over the threshold in the peripheral nerve generates a nerve activity potential, which propagates along the motor and sensory nerves.…”

“…Thermal simulation over the threshold in the peripheral nerve generates a nerve activity potential, which propagates along the motor and sensory nerves. Kelly et al reported a statistically significant change in skin temperature (p<0.001) and nerve activity potential (p<0.001) using fluidotherapy, suggesting the need for intervention in the form of surface geating to restore upper extremity function 10 ) .…”

“…Submersion of the paralyzed hand into the fine particles provided both tactile massage and heat transfer. The temperature of fluidotherapy was set to 48 °C for optimal skin heat absorption, with the treatment time set to 20 minutes 10 ) . For objective and accurate measurement of upper limb edema, a forearm volumeter was utilized as follows: 1) a cylinder was placed on a horizontal table and filled to the top with 4,000 ml of room temperature water, 2) the patient was seated comfortably and the forearm was placed in the cylinder up to 10 cm below the elbow, and 3) overflow of water was collected in a beaker and accurately measured 11 ) .…”

A pilot study comparing the efficacy of radiofrequency and microwave diathermy in combination with intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid in knee osteoarthritis

“…Percutaneous radiofrequency treatment has been reported to be a beneficial local denervation therapy for knee OA 12 ) . In the peripheral nerve fibers, the elevation of the superficial skin temperature is accompanied by an increase in the nerve conduction velocity with a concomitant decrease in sensory latency 13 ) . Although its clinical significance needs to be elucidated, nerve conduction velocity increases by approximately 2 m/s as the temperature increases by 1 °C, and this is thought to be related to nerve denervation or an increase in the pain threshold.…”

Are the Effects in Temperature and Current Flow Dependent on the Areas of Electrode Application of Capacitive-resistive Electric Transfer on the Shoulder? A Cadaveric Study

“…The increase in the concentration of type I collagen that is seen in capsular disorders, such as adhesive capsulitis, leads to decreased range of movement (5). Increasing the temperature by 1 °C can have several effects in the human body, such as changes in nerve conduction speed, enzyme activity and oxyhaemoglobin release (6)(7)(8)(9).…”