Asst. Prof. Dr. Ayman Muhammed talked about the Fluidotherapy

Physiological Characteristics

• Despite the name, Fluidotherapy does not use fluid to heat the tissues. It is a dry-heating modality that consists of solid particles suspended in a hot air stream and demonstrate properties similar to those of liquids.
• Because this unit uses dry heat transferred by convection in a suspended air stream, patients can tolerate a much higher temperature than they would with either paraffin wax or moist heat. However, this is still a superficial heat therapy.
• The viscosity of the air-fluidized system is low, allowing a patient to submerge body parts into the fluidized bed and suspend these parts similarly to a fluid bath, thus permitting exercise with relative ease.
• In Fluidotherapy, the heat is transferred by convection.
•  The heat transfer characteristics within the fluidized bed and to parts submerged in it are similar to those of a mildly agitated liquid. The combination of air flowing around the high surface area of the finely divided particles and the bulk movement of solids produces high heat fluxes and uniform temperatures throughout, thus providing a strong massaging action, sensory stimulation, and levitation.

Fluidotherapy units

1. General heating effects,
2. Micro-massage, levitation, and stimulation.
3. Exercise during the treatment can help increase the range of motion and ability to perform.
4. Both temperature and the amount of particle agitation can be varied. Temperature ranges are typically between 38.8°C to 47.8°C.  The lower ranges are recommended for patients who have a greater predisposition for edema formation or who are in beginning programs for desensitization, as they may not be able to tolerate higher temperatures.
5. Agitation can be controlled for patient comfort. In addition, varying degrees of agitation can be used in a program of desensitization for hypersensitive areas.
6. Patients can perform exercises while the affected body part(s) is within the cabinet. This is particularly effective for the distal extremities, such as the wrist, hand, fingers, ankle, foot, and toes. If heat and stretch are desired, dynamic splinting can be used during the time of heat intervention to provide a gentle stretch or stretching techniques can be used immediately following immersion in Fluidotherapy.
7. Fluidotherapy (heat plus tactile stimulation) significantly elevated superficial skin temperature
8. Fluidotherapy may be of benefit clinically when the aim of treatment is to increase soft tissue extensibility or reduce joint stiffness with active or passive movements.

Advantages of Fluidotherapy

1. Convenient and easy to administer
2. The temperature of the application can be easily controlled.
3. Agitation of dry particles can be controlled for comfort.
4. Variety of unit sizes allows for most body areas to be treated.
5. Allows for some active exercise to be carried out during the intervention
6. Provides a dry, comfortable heat
7. Can be used for desensitization of hypersensitive hands/fingers or feet/toes.
8. Minimal pressure applied to the area being treated

Disadvantages of Fluidotherapy

1. Relatively expensive modality
2. Some patients are intolerant to the enclosed container (claustrophobic feeling).
3. Some patients are intolerant to the dry materials used.
4. Limb must be in a dependent position in some units increasing the risk of edema formation
5. The constant heat source may result in overheating
6. If the corn cob particles spill onto a smooth floor, they will make the floor slippery

Indications of Fluidotherapy

1. Pain reduction
2. Arthritis, chronic tendonitis, and postoperative conditions.
3.  Post-fracture management
4. Raynaud’s syndrome.
5. Desensitization
6. Fluidotherapy is unique because it allows motion while exposed to heat.

1. Symptomatic pain relief unless etiology is established
2. Cancerous Lesions
3. Open wounds