Related Experiment Videos
Short-wave diathermy: current clinical and safety practices
Nora Shields1, John Gormley, Neil O'Hare
1School of Physiotherapy, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
Summary
Physiotherapists prefer pulsed short-wave diathermy (PSWD) for various conditions, but safety practices for operators and others are concerning. Further research and guidelines are needed for safe short-wave diathermy (SWD) use.
Area of Science:
- Physiotherapy
- Electrophysical agents
- Rehabilitation medicine
Background:
- Short-wave diathermy (SWD) is a widely available therapeutic modality.
- Current clinical practice and safety aspects of SWD are not well-documented.
- Continuous (CSWD) and pulsed (PSWD) modes of SWD are in common use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess clinical applications of CSWD and PSWD.
- To evaluate safety issues associated with SWD use.
- To identify areas for future research in SWD.
Main Methods:
- A postal survey was conducted among 116 senior physiotherapists in 41 Irish hospital departments.
- The survey achieved a 75% response rate.
- Data were analyzed to determine treatment preferences, perceived efficacy, and safety practices.
Main Results:
- Pulsed short-wave diathermy (PSWD) was the preferred mode, used frequently by 27% of respondents.
- Both CSWD and PSWD were considered effective for various acute and chronic conditions, including osteoarthritis, arthritis, and soft tissue injuries.
- Significant safety concerns were identified, with 30% of respondents reporting no operator safety measures and lacking protocols for other personnel.
Conclusions:
- SWD demonstrates apparent efficacy for specific conditions, warranting further investigation through controlled clinical trials.
- Urgent development of comprehensive guidelines is necessary to ensure the safety of operators, patients, and the public during SWD application.
- The study highlights a gap in standardized safety protocols for SWD in clinical settings.