Effect of Shortwave Diathermy Versus Ultrasound Waves on Increasing ROM and Decreasing Pain After Extensor Tendon Reconstruction

Shortwave diathermy (SWD) is a modality that produces heat by converting electromagnetic energy into thermal energy. pulsed shortwave diathermy (PSWD), uses high-frequency electromagnetic waves to heat tissues up to 5 cm deep. Heat is produced by the resistance of tissue to the passage of energy. Although it heats to the same depth as 1-MHz ultrasound, PSWD heats a much larger area than ultrasound does, making it ideal to heat larger joints, such as the elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle

Ultrasound is sound with a frequency above 20,000 Hertz (Hz) and is undetectable by the human ear. However, clinical ultrasound uses much high frequencies of between 1 and 20 megahertz (MHz) and sometimes up to 75 MHz in specialized areas such as dermatology and ophthalmology. Clinically, ultrasound is used for a number of applications ranging from visualizing structures to allow safe insertion of lines and catheters to diagnostic imaging including the assessment of the movement of cardiac Production of ultrasound waves is the first part of the clinical ultrasound process. Ultrasound is generated by piezoelectric crystals. These crystalline materials contain randomly oriented electric dipoles, and when a force is applied that deforms the crystal, the dipoles are rearranged and a net charge induced across the crystal

splinting, stretching exercises, strengthening exercises and range of motion (ROM) exercises