Infrared Radiations

By
Faisal Mehboob

Introduction
These are the electromagnetic waves with the wavelength of
750 to 400000 nm and frequency 4*1014Hz and 7.5*1011Hz.
It lies beyond the red boundary of visible spectrum.
Any hot body can produce infrared rays like the sun,
electric bulb, coal fire, gas fire etc.
In physiotherapy departments infrared rays are produced by
two types of generators
1. Nonluminous generators
2. Luminous generators

Nonluminous generators
It consists of a coil wound on a cylinder of insulating
material such as fireclay or porcelain.
An electric current passed through wire which results in the
production of heat.
This heat produces infrared rays which are transmitted
through the porcelain.
All of these nonluminous generators take some time to get
heated up for the production of infrared radiations, so they
should be switched on before 5 to 7 min of the treatment.

Luminous generators
They emit infrared, visible and a few
ultraviolet rays.
These generators are in the form of
incandescent lamps or bulbs.
An incandescent lamp consist of a
wire filament enclosed in a glass
bulb, which may contain an inert gas
at low pressure.
The filament is a coil of fine wire
which is usually made up of
tungsten.
Tungsten is a metal which is used
because it can tolerate repeated
heating and cooling.

Incandescent bulb is usually mounted

at the center of the parabolic reflector
is mounted on an adjustable stand.
These luminous generators emit the
electromagnetic waves with the
wavelength in between 350 and
4000nm, the maximum proportion of
the rays having wavelength in the
region of 1000nm.
The front of the bulb is usually red so
as to filter out the shorter visible and
ultraviolet rays.

Depth of penetration rays

Ultraviolet (a) 315 to 400nm
Ultraviolet (b) 280 to 315nm
Ultraviolet (c) below

Infrared

280nm

above

1200nm.

Techniques of treatment
The choice of apparatus
Where there is inflammation or
recent injury, the sedative effect of rays
obtained from the nonluminous
generator may prove more effective for
relieving pain
For lesions of a more chronic type,
the counter-irritant effect of the shorter
rays may prove to be of value, and
under these circumstances a luminous
generator is chosen.

Preparation of the patient

The clothes must be removed from
the area to be treated and skin is
checked for its sensation against
heat and cold.
It is unwise to give treatment if the
skin sensation is found defective.
Patient should be instructed not to
touch apparatus and nor to move
nearer to apparatus.

Arrangement of the lamp and patient

The lamp is positioned so that it is opposite to the
center of the area to be treated and the rays
strike the skin at angle thus ensuring max
absorption.

Optimum distance is around 50 to 70cm

depending upon the output of generator.
Care must be taken that patients face is not
exposed to infrared rays, eyes must be shielded to
avoid this.

Laws Governing effects of Electromagnetic

Radiations
Arndt-Schultz principle!

Cosine law.

It states that no reaction can occur in

body tissues if amount of energy
absorbed is insufficient to stimulate
absorbing tissue.

It states, proportion of rays absorbed

varies as per the cosine of angle
between the incident and the normal.

Law of Grothus-Drapper !
It states that the rays must be absorbed
to produce the effect and the effects
will be produced at that point at which
rays are absorbed.

Law of inverse square.

It states the intensity of a beam of rays
from a point source is inversely
proportional to the square of the
distance from the source.

Application of infrared treatment

At the start of treatment exposure the
intensity of radiation should be low,
but after 5 to 10 min when
vasodilatation has taken place and
increased blood flow has become
established, strength of the radiation
may be increased.
This can be achieved by moving
lamp closer to the patient.
The physiotherapist should be near
the patient throughout the treatment
session and should reduce intensity
of radiation if the heat becomes
excessive.

At the end of the treatment , skin

should be mild, not excessively red.
Duration and freq of treatment !
In cases of acute inflammation or
recent injuries and for treatment of
wounds, an exposure of 10 to 15 min
is adequate, but it may be applied
several times during the day.
In chronic conditions longer
exposures may be used.

Physiological effects
Infrared treatment produces heating
effect in the superficial epidermis and
dermis, thus resulting in
vasodilation which increases blood
circulation in that area.
This will lead to more oxygen supply
and nutrient supply in that area
leading to draining of waste products
resulting in the relief of pain.
The sedative effects on nerve endings
lead to reduction in muscle spasm.

Therapeutic effects
In relieving pain.
In muscle relaxation
In increasing blood supply

Dangers of infrared rays

Contraindication

Burns
Electric shock
Faintness or giddiness.

Hyperpyrexia
Tuberculosis
Inflammation
Epilepsy
Skin conditions like allergy,
ulcer.
Tumor
Abnormal skin sensation

Duration of treatment
For

acute condition
=
For subacute condition =
For chronic condition =

10 to 15 min
15 to 20 min

20 to 30 min

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