Microwave Diathermy

(MWD)

ANSHIKA MISHRA
ANJALI GUPTA
ANKIT SINHA
ANUJA POKALE
ARUSHI BANSAL
TOPICS COVERED
• Principle, Generation, Circuit Diagram and Testing
• Types, Methods of Application, Technique
• Therapeutic uses/Indications
• Dangers/Contra-indication
• Precautions
• Practical Application
 Introduction
What is Diathermy?

● Diathermy is a Greek word (“Dia: through,thermy: heating”).So in this high frequency

electromagnetic current/waves applied to induce heating within body tissue to induce

physiological effects for therapeutic purpose.

● Therapeutic treatment commonly prescribed for muscular & joint associated pain.

● Diathermy relieve pain & enhance rate of recovery of healing the tissues.

○ It is a type of heat therapy

 Introduction
Types of heat therapy
There are two types of heat therapy:
● Dry heat therapy: Source: SWD,MWD
● Moist heat therapy: Source:Hot bath, Moist heating Pack
How heat is generated?
Heat is generated in tissues by its resistance to passage of high frequency electromagnetic energy.

Types of Diathermy: SWD, MWD, LWD, ultrasound Diathermy, laser

Diathermy
 Introduction
Purpose of Diathermy:
● Therapeutic purpose:Help in easing pain
● Surgical purpose: when heat increased & concentrated at one point &
can cause cutting & burning or boiling of cell.
 Principle of Diathermy
● Before injury, dipole molecules of body tissues are arranged on the basis of polarity.
● On injury & when tissue is damage dipole distribution become irregular & deviates from
polarity based arrangement .
● Under the influence of an electric field , they rotate according to polarity of their charge in
the direction of field lines & get rearranged & tends to acquire previous stage of polarity.
 Microwave Diathermy

Properties of Microwave

● Electromagnetic radiations with frequency ranging between 300 MHz-300GHz &

wavelength 1cm-1m.
● Microwave radiation commonly known as Microwave.
● It is form of Electromagnetic radiation lying between short wave ( frequency: 3KHz -
300MHz) & infrared wave ( frequency: 300GHz-400 THz).
● Metal surface reflect microwave.
● Microwave of certain frequency can absorbed by water hence microwave diathermy is used
to treat conditions related to pain in tissues with a lot of water content ( muscle) & less
effective on fat tissue having low water content.
Microwave Diathermy

Properties of Microwave
 Microwave Diathermy

Properties of Microwave

● 50% of microwave beam applied to skin is reflected, rest is absorbed by tissues

at depth of only 6-8cm.
● Undergo Reflection, Refraction, Absorption , Penetration, & Transmission.
● When applied to tissue produce heat which increased metabolic activity and
blood flow and causes muscle relaxation and increases efficiency of muscle.
● Extent of change in tissue depend on following factors:
○ Size of area heated.
○ Depth of Absorption of specific radiation.
○ Duration of heating & intensity of radiation.
 Microwave Diathermy
PRINCIPLE

 Microwave uses high frequency electric current to stimulate heat generation within the
tissues.
 Uses microwave to generate heat within the body tissues.
 Microwave diathermy are electro magnetic radiation emitting system used by
professionals for thermotherapy treatment.
 Microwave in MWD causes oscillation of ions in electrolytes and molecules in
polarized dielectric and create heat.
 So this basically improve blood flow and circulation of particular area due to increase
in temperature and relax the affected area.
 Uses electromagnetic radiation by microwave and heat to lesser tissue depth than
SWD.used to heat superficial areas.
 Microwave Diathermy

Characteristics of MWD

● Microwave is more easily focussed than short wave in SWD, decreasing energy leaking
and making heat more efficient. Hence used to treat pathologic process occurring in
muscles.
● MWD uses Electromagnetic radiation by microwave to produce heat.
● Energy is first absorbed at body surface (skin) and a part of it penetrate and absorbed in
deep tissues.
● MWD doesn’t penetrate as deep as SWD.
● Microwave has much higher frequency and shorter wavelength than SWD.
● MWD generate strong electric field and relatively less magnetic field.
 Microwave Diathermy

Characteristics of MWD

MICROWAVE DIATHERMY USES FOLLOWING FREQUENCY AND WAVELENGTH FOR

THERAPEUTIC PURPOSE: Most
commonly used
Frequency(MHz) Wavelength(cm)
MOST for therapeutic
purpose.
2456 12.24 Effective
915 32.79 penetration of
it is about
433.92 69
 Microwave Diathermy

Characteristics of MWD

 Microwave beam can be narrowed to allow small areas to be treated accurately and is highly
directional and can be aligned rapidly.
 Microwave radiation is radiated as a beam from an antenna and absorbed by water rich tissues 7000
times more efficiently than short wave radiofrequency energy.
 Lower frequency have ability to penetrate more. Hence MWD is used for superficial structure and SWD
for deep structures.
 Superficial tissue moderately heated achieved maximum temperature within 5-10 min after which local
vasodilation prevent further warming.
 Microwave Diathermy

Component of microwave diathermy: 3 components

•as compared to other valves, magnetron require

times to warm up & output is not obtained
immediately the apparatus is switched on.
Multicavity Magnetron valve •Standby switch should be provided for use between
treatment enable output circuit to be disconnected
without cutting off the current to the valve so that
repeated heating & cooling of valve is avoided.
 Microwave Diathermy

Component of microwave diathermy

•Carry high frequency current from magnetron to

antenna (mounted in a reflector and packed with some
material which transmits waves & form solid unit).
•Consist of central wire with an outer metal sheath
Coaxial cable separated from wire by insulating material wire &
sheath run parallel to each other & form the output.
•Cable must be of correct length for particular
frequency.
 Microwave Diathermy

Component of microwave diathermy

Director or emitter or applicator • Used to direct wave on tissues .

Note: Patient doesn’t form a part of circuit.

Only specified frequency is used for medical work
as it can interfere with radio communications.
Microwave Diathermy

Circuit diagram
 Microwave Diathermy

Generation of microwave
● MWD apparatus connected to main AC supply
which supply current of frequency 50 Hz & voltage
of 220 V.
● It is not possible to produce Microwave by
mechanical means so special type of thermionic
valve called magnetron is used.
● Primary function of magnetron:
 produce high frequency alternating electric
current required to produce microwave.
 special type of thermionic valve characterized
by centrally placed cathode and surrounding
metal anode.
 Microwave Diathermy

Generation of microwave

● Coaxial cable carries these high frequency current from

magnetron to antenna of emitter.
● Emitter also known as director or applicator.
● Emitter consist of antenna and reflector. And antenna is
mounted in front of metal reflector.
● Reflector is a metal plate directs microwave in one particular
direction.
● Distance between emitter and skin is 10-20 cm from body and
can vary according to size of emitter, part to be treated and
condition of patient. if a small area has to be treated emitter
should be closer to skin(2-5cm) and if area to be treated is larger
distance can be increased to around 10-15cm.
Microwave Diathermy

● Generation of microwave

Types of emitter
Emitter are of various shapes and sizes.
Common shape are circular and rectangular.
Circular shaped emitter Rectangular shaped
(4’’or 6’’) emitter
(4.5*5”or 5*21”)
Produce microwave : Produce microwave
circular in cross section which is oval in cross
and denser in periphery section and denser in
than center. center than periphery.
Procedure of application
1:Selection of the treatment head
The director selection depends on the shape and the
anatomical configuration of the treated area.

> Spacing of Applicators

For small treatment area is 2-6cm
For large treatment area is 10-15cm
The actual distance from the director to the skin will
determine the extent of the treatment zone.

It can be detected by passing an ordinary fluorescent

lamp between the treatment head and the patient's
skin.
2:Preparation of the patient:
• ▸ The target area should be bare skin.
• Inspect part to be treated (check for skin rashes,
infection, or open wound).
• ▸ Clean the skin thoroughly to avoid refraction or
burn if the skin is wet.
• The patient must be warned to avoid excessive
movement once the emitter has been arranged in
position, and full support in a comfortable
position is necessary to ensure this. The patient is
fitted with a pair of wire mesh goggles to protect
his eyes.
3:Monitoring the treatment
• The target distance will determine the power levels, as the closer the
director to the skin, the lower the power levels and vice-versa.
• ▸ A warm-up period must be allowed to permit the magnetron to
develop enough efficiency (+-4 minutes).
• ▸ The desired sensation of the patient is gentle warmth.
• ▸ Reports of hot spots should be attended immediately either by
reducing the power or increasing the distance.
4:Duration of treatment:
The duration of irradiation ranges from 10 to 30 minutes,
shorter exposures being used on small areas and for
acute conditions.
while larger ones need more.

Treatment may be given daily or on alternate days.

dosage
The dose can be calculated from the power output from the machine,
which may be up to 200 watts, but in all cases the sensation
experienced by the patient must be the primary guide.

This should never be more than a comfortable warmth, and as a

general rule weaker doses should be used for acute than for chronic
conditions.

It is advisable to commence cautiously and in all cases progressive

increases in exposure must depend on the patient's reaction.
 General Guideline & Safety When Using Diathermy

1. Question patients (contraindications and previous treatment).

2.Place electrodes on treated area then switch on the machine.
3.Periodically ask patient if heating is too vigorous.
4.When timer shuts off, terminating the treatment and turn all dials to
zero.
5.Assess treatment efficiency (inspect area, feedback from patients).
6. Record treatment parameters
Therpeutic effect of MWD

Therpeutic effect of
microwave therapy to the
conversion of energy into
heat and it’s distribution
through out the body
tissues .
Therapeutic effects

- pain
- Muscle spasm
- inflammation infection
- fibrosis
- delayed healing
Pain : MWD is useful in the treatment of traumatic and rheumatic conditions affecting superficial muscle, ligaments and small superficial
joints

Muscle spasm : which may be reduced directly by MWD or may be reduced by relieving of pain

Inflammation: by increase blood supply that will increase venous return from the inflammed area and aids the reabsorption of deems exudates
Contra-indication and Danger
INDICATIONS

• Sprains - stretching and tearing of ligaments

• Strains - injury to a muscle or tendon

• Synovitis - inflammation of synovium

• Bursitis - inflammation of bursae

• Hematoma – clotted internal bleeding

• Joint Stiffness

• Superficial infections – Abscess,

septic fingers, carbuncles

• Pains of muscular origin

CONTRA-INDICATIONS
• Malignancy (cancer)

• Ischemic tissues - interruption in atrial blood

supply

• Male genital area – can cause infertility BLOCKED ARTERY WHICH MAY
CAUSE ISCHEMIA

• Pregnancy – can cause harm to the fetus and

miscarriage
• Pacemakers and Metallic implants – causes scattering
and reflection of MWD

• Hemorrhagic area

• Eyes – may cause cataract

• Moderate and excessive Edema

• Obesity – can cause excessive

heat in subcutaneous layer
DANGERS

• Burns – excessive heating and burning due to

1)Shallow depth of penetration
2)Reflection at tissue interfaces
3)Potential standing wave
Precautions
• MWD treatment should be avoided in areas close
to epiphyses, reproductive organs, nervous system tissues,
and fluid-filled cavities.
• Avoid diathermy if a patient has a pacemaker or implanted
neurological device.
• Diathermy should not be applied, directly over most metal
implants (dental fillings excluded), as metal selectively heats
and can burn the patient.
• Irradiation of the eyes should be avoided and when exposure
is likely, protective goggles should be worn by the patient.
• Diathermy should not be used over anything wet, as the water is likely to turn to steam, potentially
resulting in a burn. Use dry towels and take sensible precautions to ensure that the area to be
treated is dried.

• Diathermy is not used directly over the abdomen of pregnant patients, and generally avoided with
pregnancy primarily because of its temperature-elevating ability.

• Diathermy should not be used over an active epiphysis and is not advised directly over malignant
tissue.
Practical Applications of
Microwave Diathermy
• Microwave have limited penetration and are preferred for heating superficial muscles and shallow
joints.
• It is typically used in patients with chronic neck pain, back pain, or arthritis.
• Heat alters the viscoelastic properties of collagen. When stretched passively whilst hot, collagen
remains elongated as it cools and is less prone to rupture than tissue stretched without heating.
• Treating injuries with heat can increase blood. It can also help minimize inflammation and reduce
the incidence of edema, or fluid retention.

• Microwave diathermy is reported to correct contractures of rectus femoris when combined with
stretching, and by heating effectively structures that lie superficially, such as the interphalangeal
and metacarpophalangeal joints, is likely to improve function in the hands.
Thank you