title: Heating capacity of rebound shortwave diathermy and moist hot packs at superficial depths.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effectiveness of a new continuous diathermy unit, ReBound, as a heating modality is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of ReBound diathermy with silicate-gel moist hot packs on tissue temperature in the human triceps surae muscle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Crossover study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 12 healthy, college-aged volunteers (4 men, 8 women; age = 22.2 ± 2.25 years, calf subcutaneous fat thickness = 7.2 ± 1.9 mm).
  
  
  METHODS
  On 2 different days, 1 of 2 modalities (ReBound diathermy, silicate-gel moist hot pack) was applied to the triceps surae muscle of each participant for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, the modality was removed, and temperature decay was recorded for 20 minutes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medial triceps surae intramuscular tissue temperature at a depth of 1 cm was measured using an implantable thermocouple inserted horizontally into the muscle. Measurements were taken every 5 minutes during the 30-minute treatment and every minute during the 20-minute temperature decay, for a total of 50 minutes. Treatment was analyzed through a 2 × 7 mixed-model analysis of variance with repeated measures. Temperature decay was analyzed through a 2 × 21 mixed-model analysis of variance with repeated measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 30-minute application, tissue temperatures at a depth of 1 cm increased more with the ReBound diathermy than with the moist hot pack (F6,66 = 7.14, P < .001). ReBound diathermy and moist hot packs increased tissue temperatures 3.69°C ± 1.50°C and 2.82°C ± 0.90°C, respectively, from baseline. Throughout the temperature decay, ReBound diathermy produced a greater rate of heat dissipation than the moist hot pack (F20,222 = 4.42, P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During a 30-minute treatment at a superficial depth, the ReBound diathermy increased tissue temperature to moderate levels, which were greater than the levels reached with moist hot packs.
authors.affiliation: Southern Virginia University, Buena Vista, VA 24416, USA. amanda.hawkes@svu.edu
authors.forename: Amanda R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hawkes
authors.forename: David O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Draper
authors.forename: A Wayne
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Mike T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Diede
authors.forename: Justin H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Rigby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003972:Diathermy; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D013821:Thermometers; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult