Physical therapy wound care programs can offer alternatives to traditional therapies that may not be effective on certain wounds. Wound progression can lead to systemic infections, disabilities, amputations or death, so finding a way to treat wounds is necessary. If you are unable to treat a wound at home, seek medical care and explore alternative treatment options with your physician.
Electrical Stimulation
Programs that offer electrical stimulation for wound care involves the use of electrical current which is delivered by electrodes that are placed on the skin in close proximity to a wound. This therapy is not recommended unless a wound has undergone conventional treatment for at least 30 days and shows no signs of healing. Ulcerations of the skin are the typical wounds treated with this type of therapy. Electrical stimulation typically will not exceed 60 minutes per day and the treatment usually ends within four weeks. Treatments beyond these time restrictions have not shown to be therapeutic.
Ultrasound Therapy
Certain wounds benefit from ultrasound therapy due to its ability to generate heat within the tissues. According to the Bandolier Oxford Journal, this wound therapy is controversial, but two out of three trials showed significant wound care benefit from ultrasound therapy. One trial used 38 patients with leg ulcers and administered 12 sessions of five to 10 minutes of ultrasound. There was a 25 percent decrease in wound size. The trial that revealed negative outcomes from ultrasound therapy involved 40 patients with pressure sores. Each patient received five-minute sessions of ultrasound three times per week and no significant wound healing was noted.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing 100 percent oxygen at an elevated pressure. Increasing the oxygen supply promotes wound healing and kills bacteria. This therapy is administered in a chamber that may accommodate one patient or multiple patients. Gas gangrene, refractory wounds, radiation injuries, chronic osteomyelitis and necrotic infections can all be treated with this type of therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is contraindicated for patients with claustrophobia due to the confined chambers. Certain risks are involved in this therapy, such as pressure related trauma and oxygen toxicity.
Whirlpool Therapy
Whirlpool therapy may be an option for wound healing if the wound has dying tissue, moderate to heavy exudate, debris or a need for vigorous stimulation. The wound tissue needs to be able to tolerate moderate to heavy stimulation. This treatment option utilizes warm water to increase blood flow, which delivers oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. Whirlpool therapy offers the benefits of cleaning wounds, removing dead tissue and controlling infection. This therapy can give the patient a sedation and pain relief effect.
References
- Aetna: Clinical Policy Bulletin: Electrical Stimulation for Chronic Ulcers
- Bandoiler: Ultrasound for Cutaneous Wound Healing
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: Technology Assessment for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Treatment of Hypoxic Wounds
- Wound Care Information Network: Whirlpool in Wound Care
