Infra Red Radiations
• Presented by:
• Sidra Aslam Ansari
• Sania Shaukat
• Shaista Ghazal
• Anokhi Rani
• Saeeda Shafiq
212/2/2014
Topics:
• Introduction
• Production
• Classification
• Physical Effects
• Physiological Effects
• Indication and contraindications
• Dangers
• Techniques of application312/2/2014
Introduction:
• Infra red rays are electromagnetic waves.
• Having wavelength of 750nm-400000nm
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Classification of IRR:
IRR are also classified according to their
distance from the visible spectrum as:
Near or short IRR:
Having a wavelength from 770-1500nm
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Classification of IRR:
Far or Long IRR:
Having a wavelength from 1500-
12,000nm
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Production Of IRR:
• Any Object having a temperature above that
of absolute zero emit infra red rays
• The sun
• Gas fires
• Coal fires
• Electric fires
• Hot Water pipes
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Production of IRR:
• For use in physiotherapy two types of infra
red lamps are used
• Luminous Infra red
• Non-luminous Infra red
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Luminous Infra Red:
• Luminous generator emits IRR
• Rays emitted from luminous generators are
produced by one or more incandescent
lamps.
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Luminous Infra Red:
• An incandescent lamp consists of a wire
filament enclosed in a glass bulb, which may
be evacuated or may contain an innert glass
at low pressure
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Luminous Infra Red:
• The filament is a coil of fine wire and is
usually made of tungston ; as this material
tolerates related heating and cooling.
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Luminous Infra Red:
• The passage of an electric current through
the filament produces heat, Infra red, visible
and few Ultra violet rays.
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• The spectrum is from 350-4000nm
• The greatest proportion of the rays having
the wavelength the region of 1000nm
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Non-Luminous IRR:
• An electric current is passed through
resistance wire covered with copper tubing
or with clay; generate non-luminous IRR.
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Physical Effects of
IRR:
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Physical Effects of IRR:
• IRR obey the law of electromagnetic
radiation such as:
Reflection
Refraction
Absorption
Law of inverse square
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Physical effects if IRR:
Heat Production:
IRR produce heat in the tissues in
which they are absorbed.
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Heat production:
Short/luminous IRR having a frequency
range of 700-1500nm will produce heat.
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Heat production:
It can penetrate upto the dermis and
superficial sub-cutaneous tissues.
Long/non-luminous IRR having a frequency
range of 1500-12000nm can penetrate to
about 2mm that is upto the superficial
dermis.
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Heat Production:
• Degree of temperature:
There is generally a 1-2 degree rise in
temperature.
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Heat Production:
The degree of elevation of heat depends on:
The ability of tissues to absorb heat
The specific heat of tissues
Thickness of tissues.
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Absorption of IRR:
The absorption of IRR depends upon:
• The frequency or wavelength
• Angle of incidence from source
• Distance of source
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Frequency or wavelength:
• IRR with a wavelength of longer than
3000nm are totally absorbed by the
moisture present in the skin.
• Both the long and short IRR are absorbed
by the moisture present in the skin, thus
reducing the absorption of heat.
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• 11% of the short/luminous IRR are
absorbed by the glass of the bulb
• 33% is reflected from the skin
• 56% is absorbed
of the 56% absorbed rays 36% is absorbed
in the epidermis, 10% goes deeper into the
dermis and remaining is scattered in the
epidermis. 12/2/2014 25
• The long IRR;
• 36% is reflected
• 20% is absorbed in superficial dermis
• 16% reaches the deep epidermis
• 19% penetrate upto dermis
• 11% is absorbed by the glass of bulb
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Absorption of IRR:
• Angle of incidence from the source:
According to Lambert’s Cosine Law, the
angle of incident determines the amount of
radiation absorption.
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Absorption of IRR:
• Absorption at 90° of incident ray is
maximum due to zero reflection.
• As the angle of incidence from the source to
surface increases, the reflection also
increases and so is the absorption decreases.
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Absorption of IRR:
• For every 15° increase in the angle of
incident on the surface, the absorption
decreases by 3%.
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The Distance Of Source:
• Obey inverse square law; the intensity of
radiation varies with square of distance.
i.e, if the radiating source is moved to half
the distance nearer or further, the intensity
increases four times or decreases four times.
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Absorption of IRR:
• The absorption of IRR also depends on the:
Thermal conductivity of tissue,
Density of tissue,
Specific heat of tissue
Circulation of the tissues.
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Physiological
Effects Of IRR
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Physiological effects:
• Infra red rays have an
immediate effect of producing heat in the
tissues when absorbed. All physiological
effects obtained are due to rise in
temperature (heat) in the tissue.
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Physiological effects:
• There are nine physiological effects which I
am discussing in my topic.
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VASODILATION:
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• 1-The superficial blood vessels dilate
because of the direct effect of heat.
• 2- Heat causes liberation of histamine like
substance which act on the capillaries and
cause them to dilate.
VASODILATION:
• 3- Heat regulatory centre in the medulla
also signals the capillaries to dilate as the
temperature rises.
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Nerve stimulation:
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Heat stimulates the sensory nerves ,
perhaps the rise of temperature decrease
gamma fiber activity
decreases pain
decreases muscle spasm and promote
relaxation
Nerve stimulation:
• An increase in temperature to 43°C
produces vasodepression of vasomotor
reflex, causing release of vasoactive agents
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• Increase temperature causes increased
phagocytotic effects promoting healing of
superficial wounds
• Also in suppurating conditions such as
carbuncles and abcess heat can help in
drainage.
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Phagocytosis:
Pigmentation and Erythema:
• Erythema caused by the irradiation of infra
red rays disappears readily, soon after the
heating has stopped
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Pigmentation and Erythema:
• Repeated exposures with
infra red rays can cause
pigmentation
of the skin because of
the destruction of blood
corpuscles and is known
as erythema abigne
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Decreased Blood Pressure:
• When infra red rays are given to larger
areas for prolonged periods , fall in blood
pressure results due to generalized
vasodilation
• It causes decreased peripheral resistance to
blood flow. Local application however,
does not affect the blood pressure
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Effects On Metabolism:
• According to Van’t Hoff Law, for every 10
increase in temperature there is two-three
fold increase rate of cellular oxidation.
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HEAT
• Also increased extensibility of the collagen
tissue
DECREASED MUSCLE SPASM:
• Muscle spasm is reduced due to decreased
firing of secondary afferents of muscle
spindle and
increased firing of 1b GTO fibers reducing
alpha
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Pain Relief
• Heat causes pre-synaptic inhibition of A
delta and C fibers via activation of A-beta
fibers.
• Actual phenomenon for pain reduction is
not fully reabsorbed.
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Pain relief:
• It is thought also that raised temperature of
the tissue decreases the gamma activity.
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Indications and
Contra-indications
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Indications Of IRR:
Painful Conditions:
• Both Luminous and non-luminous IRR are
used to relieve pain and muscle spasm
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Indications Of IRR:
Oedema:
• IRRs help in absorption of exudates because
of capillary dilation
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Indications Of IRR:
Healing of Wounds:
• Wound healing following IRR is due to the
vasodilation effect.
• IRR also help in drainage of wounds and
sinuses.
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Skin Conditions:
• Infra red radiation make dermatomal
conditions worse such as dermatitis( A
condition in which skin become red &
swollen resulting from irritation of skin by
an allergic reaction.
• Eczema
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• Direct exposure of eyes to infrared rays can
cause cataract.(In which lens of the eye
become progressively opaque resulting
blurred vision)
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Damage To Eyes:
• Heat will render the patient’s perception of
rise in temperature. This failure to detect
excessive heat may result in burn.
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Loss Of Sensations:
Deep X-ray Therapy:
• Following deep X-ray therapy Infrared rays
should not be given for 3 months. Deep x-
ray therapy also reduces the sensation over
the exposed area. Thus may get burned
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Patient On Strong Analgesics:
• Drugs have raised pain threshold,thus the
patient will not be able to determine
whether the intensity of heat is too much
causing burn
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In Case of Skin Tumors:
• Heat tends to accelerate the growth of
tumors.
• Patients with cardiac problems
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Dangers Of IRR:
BURN
ELECTRICAL SHOCK
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TECHNIQUES
OF INFRA RED
TREATMENT
Choice of Apparatus:
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• Choose the modality i.e. LUMINOUS or
NON LUMINOUS.
• Apparatus should be in working order.
• Pre-heated at least 5 minutes before
heating.
• Note the voltage of the emitter.
• Usually lamps with emitters from 250 to
1000 watts are used.
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Preparation of patient:
• Position of the patient should be
comfortable and adequate.
• Avoid undue movement of the patient.
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• The part to be treated should be exposed
and the rest of the body should be covered.
• Protect the eyes of the patient.
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• Test the skin sensation of the patient
• Remove all metal objects like rings, safety
pins etc.
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Arrangement of Lamp and
Patient:
• Arrange the lamp so that the rays strike the
skin at right angles.
• The distance of the lamp from patient
should be measured.
• Set the timer.
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• For acute conditions duration should be 10
to 15 minutes and for chronic conditions it
should be 30 minutes.
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At the End Of Treatment:
• Covered the area exposed with a dry towel.
• Remove the lamp to a safe location.
• Inspect the area exposed, for erythema
produced.
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• Ask the patient, how he or she is feeling
now.
• Ask the patient to dress up.
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Thank
You