Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2005 , Vol 51 , Num 4

Are the Physical Therapeutic Modalities Really Safe?

Berna Tander 1 ,Ferhan Cantürk 2 ,Kıvanç Cengiz 3 ,Dilek Durmuş 2 ,Yeşim Akyol 1
1 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ondokuz Mayıs University Faculty of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey
2 Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Samsun, Türkiye
3 Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Samsu

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the complications of physical therapeutic modalities (PTMs) and patient satisfaction during and after physical therapy (PT) in our institution.
 

Materials and Methods: One hundred consecutive patients (64 female, 36 male), who underwent PT were enrolled in this study. A questionnaire involving demographic data, complications of PTMs and complaints of patients was applied to all patients. PTMs and patient numbers were as follows; hot pack for 86 patients, ultrasound for 69, interferential current for 56, diadynamic electrotherapy for 37, short wave diathermy for 26, whirlpool for 5 and cold pack for 2 patients. The patients’ disorders were as follows respectively; 44 patients had lumbar or cervical spondylosis, 18 knee osteoarthritis, 15 soft tissue disease, 14 shoulder periarthritis, 9 cerebrovascular disease and 6 joint contractures. 
 

Results: The mean age was 51.14±13.42 years. Pain (n=4), tachycardia (n=2), bleeding (n=1), allergic reaction (n=1), hypertension (n=1) and bulla (n=1) were documented as PTMs complications. There was no statistically significant relationship between the occurrence of complications and patients’ satisfaction (p>0.05). We did not find any significant relationship between the primary disorders and the complications, and PTMs and the complications (p>0.05).
 

Conclusion: The PTMs are safe and did not raise serious complications when used by experienced physiotherapists. Patients were satisfied with their therapy as well.  

Keywords : Physical therapeutic modalities, complication, physical therapy, patients’ satisfactio