Diathermy: Advantages and Disadvantages

This page covers the advantages and disadvantages of Diathermy, along with its basic principles. It details the benefits and drawbacks of Diathermy treatment.

What is Diathermy?

The term “diathermy” refers to heat produced by electrical means. A common application of diathermy is for muscle relaxation. Diathermy can be used for two main functions in medicine: physiotherapy and surgery.

When high-frequency current (around 100 KHz) is passed through the human body, tissues heat up due to their resistance to the flow of current. This principle is used in diathermy-based treatment methods. The heat can reach areas as deep as two inches from the skin’s surface.

The different types of diathermy, based on their construction and working principle, are:

• Short Wave Diathermy: Uses a short radio wave with an 11-meter wavelength to heat tissues. There are two main types: capacitor plate-based and inductor coil-based. It is mainly used for treating deep-seated sports injuries.
• Microwave Diathermy: Uses microwave frequencies in the range of 300 MHz to 30 GHz. The most common frequency used is 2450 MHz. It uses a magnetron in its construction. It generally provides better results than short wave diathermy, but has a poorer depth of penetration.
• Ultrasonic Diathermy: Uses ultrasonic energy to heat certain tissues. It uses an oscillator and piezoelectric crystal. It can be used for micro-level massage of tissues.

Other types include long wave diathermy and laser diathermy.

Benefits or Advantages of Diathermy

Following are the benefits of Diathermy:

• This therapeutic treatment is used for the treatment of muscular and joint-associated pains without significant risk.
• It enhances the rate of tissue recovery and healing.
• It promotes blood flow and circulation and also improves flexibility in stiff joints and connective tissues.
• It reduces inflammation.

Drawbacks or Disadvantages of Diathermy

Following are the drawbacks of Diathermy:

• It can involve uneven and uncontrolled delivery of heat. Therefore, in addition to the target tissues, surrounding tissues may also get heated up, affecting undesired areas.
• The subcutaneous layer of the skin is fatty, making direct delivery of heat to deep layers of tissue difficult.
• The EM (Electromagnetic) energy can cause extreme heat in metal devices (e.g., bone pins, dental fillings, metal sutures, etc.), potentially causing burns.
• Diathermy should be avoided in the following cases:
  • Implanted metal devices
  • Peripheral vascular disease
  • Tissue with restricted blood supply
  • Cancer
  • Bleeding disorder
  • Severe heart, liver, or kidney conditions
  • Pregnancy