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Contrast Bath

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Contrast Bath

  • See Also
  1. Musculoskeletal Injury Management
  • Definition
  1. Therapeutic heat and cold to distal extremity
  • Indication
  1. Ligament Sprain or Joint capsule sprain
    1. After initial ice only for first 72 hours
  2. Stasis edema
  3. Peripheral Vascular Disease
    1. Improve circulation in contralateral extremity
      1. Occurs by consensual vasodilatation
    2. Exercise is more effective in PVD
  4. Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid Arthritis
    1. Improves range of motion
  • Adverse Effects
  1. Vigorous hyperemia
  2. Discomfort during cold cycle
    1. Issue of compliance
  • Preparation
  1. Warm Water Bath: 38-44 C (100-111 F)
  2. Cold Water Bath: 10-18 C (50-66 F)
  • Technique 1
  • Decrementing Warm Baths (20 minutes)
  1. Warm water bath for 5 minutes
  2. Cold water bath for 1 minute
  3. Warm Water bath for 4 minutes
  4. Cold water bath for 1 minute
  5. Warm Water bath for 3 minutes
  6. Cold water bath for 1 minute
  7. Warm Water bath for 2 minutes
  8. Cold water bath for 1 minute
  9. Warm Water bath for 1 minute
  • Technique 2
  • Fixed Warm Baths (30 minutes)
  1. Warm water bath for 10 minutes
  2. Cycle warm and cold baths for 4 repetitions
    1. Cold water bath for 1 minute
    2. Warm Water bath for 4 minutes