title: [Use of thermotherapy, ultrasound and laser by practising physiotherapists. Physiotherapists' choice of treatment].
abstract: The purpose of this examination was to examine the practising physiotherapist's way of treating patients with nine selected diagnoses (fibrosites, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cervical slipped disc, lumbar slipped disc, generalized lumbar/back pain, generalized bursitis, generalized tendinitis, and sprains). In addition, nine different forms of therapy were examined (hot packs, infra-red light, ice packs, short waves, microwaves, diadynamic current, ultrasound, transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation and laser). All in all, 41 clinics with 2,018 treatment confrontations in the examination period, the last week of March 1990, took part in the survey. The majority of therapists were in possession of short wave, hot packs, ultrasound and laser which are also the four forms of therapy most frequently used for treatment. Compared to a Swedish examination from 1979, there is a doubling in ultrasound treatments from 24% to 48%, while the amount of short wave and microwave treatment remained unchanged. There was a remarkable variation in the physiotherapist's choice of therapy in each different diagnosed case. This can be due to the lack of specification of the diagnosis, so that different symptoms, course and stage of illness changed the treatment pattern elected.
authors.affiliation: Odense Sygehus, reumatologisk afdeling G.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lambrechtsen
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frankild
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
mesh_terms: D003718:Denmark; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000379:methods*; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
vernacular_title: Praktiserende fysioterapeuters anvendelse af termisk terapi, ultralyd og laser. Fysioterapeuters behandlingsvalg.