cyclotherm is used to heat or cool the skin by varying temperature of circulating fluid

2. 
 Cyclotherm is a device which can heat or cool the
skin surface by means of varying the temperature of
a circulating fluid.
 This system is able to apply a temperature up to 40°c
and down to 1°c and vary in between these limits at a
rate of approximately 13°c per minute

3. 
 A flexible applicator, in which fluid circulates iss
held in contact with the tissue surface
 The device can be programmed to apply
predetermined temperatures for pre-set times for
thermotherapy, cryotherapy and perhaps most
usefully, thermal contrast therapy. It comprises a
water reservoir to which water is added and that is
then connected, via an insulated tube, to a sleeve or
sealed bag like unit.

4. 
 The water circulates the bag which covers the area
being treated.
 Depending on the unit, the water is kept at a
thermostatically preset temperature(controlled
temperature flow) or flaked ice is added to the water
in the reservoir so water at or close to 0°c is
circulated.
 The water is either pumped through continously by an
electric pump (continuous flow) or is circulated by
flushing it back through the reservoir every 15 minutes
or so ( intermittent flow)

5. 
 HEAT:
 Increase circulation
 Increase metabolism
 Increase inflammation ( increase phagocytosis and
wound healing)
 Decreased pain (analgesic effect)
General sedative effect that promotes realxation,
effective for general soreness, aches, pain, but not as
effective as cold application in removing acute injury
pain
PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS

6. 
 Decreased muscle spasm
 Decrease tissue stiffness
 COLD:
 on cutaneous blood vessels:-
 There is immediate vasoconstriction of cutaneous blood
vessels, this restricts the blood flow in the skin so that
heat loss is minimized.
 On muscle blood flow:-
 Cooling provokes vasoconstriction in all vasculaar
smooth muscles and the increased viscosity leads to
reduced flow of blood

7. 
 Lowered metabolic rate:-
 Reduced o2 uptake
 Reduced production of metabolites
 On PNS:-
 Cold applied to the skin provide a strong sensory
stimulus cold receptors.
 Reduced nerve conduction velocity
 Muscle strength: Variable effect

8. 
 Heat:
 Therapeutic heat is most effective in decreasing
general soreness and in preparing soft tissues for
stretching and joint mobilization.
 To increase blood flow to the injured body part;
during this process blood also delivers nutrients to
that area and carries metabolites ad other waste
products, thereby increasing the rate of healing of
the injury.
THERAPEUTIC USES

9. 
 COLD:
 Applied to the recent injuries (Limits bleeding by
vasoconstriction and increased blood viscosity)
 Pain relief (reduces the conduction of cutaneous
nociceptive fibers)
 Reduce muscle spasm
 Reduces muscle spasticity
 Facilitates muscle contraction
 Reduction of chronic inflammation of joint

10. 
 Heat:-
 Contractures
 Before mobilisations and stretching
 Sub – acute joint sprains (4 – 14 days post injury)
 Treatment should be given with the hot before and
cold after.
INDICATIONS

11. 
 Cold:-
 Immediate care of acute injuries
 Facilitating exercises during rehabilitation of
orthopedic injuries
 Muscle spasm with cold and stretching relive faster
than with heat and stretching.

12. 
 Vasospasm or any kind of vascular diseases
 Cryoglobinaemia – abnormal protien present in
blood, which precipitates at low temperatures,
blocking blood vessels and causing local ischemia.
 Cold urticaria - cold causes release of histamine
from mast cells leading to local erythema and
sometimes symptoms like lowered bp and raised
pulse rate
Contraaindications

13. 
 Special care with:
 Cardiac diseases
 Hypertension
 Loss of sensation
 Malignancies
 Infection