Medical expert of the article
New publications
Inductothermy
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Inductothermy is a method of local action by the variable high-frequency magnetic field of the corresponding parameters, carried out with the help of inducers (inductor-disk or inductor-cable) located over a certain area of the patient's body at a distance of 1-2 cm.
Inductothermy uses the frequency of the alternating magnetic field used in physiotherapy equipment, 13.56 MHz, 27.12 and 40.68 MHz; input power of the apparatus from 30 to 200 W.
The effect of the factor is caused by the appearance in the tissues and media of an organism with significant electrical conductivity of such electrodynamic changes as a vortex electric field of the same frequency and induction of chaotic eddy currents (Foucault currents). One of the most characteristic properties of these currents is high heat production.
The specific features of the inductothermy method are the manifestation of thermal and nonthermal effects.
The formation of endogenous heat (thermal effect) is associated with the action of a variable high-frequency magnetic field of high and medium intensity from equipment for inductothermy, since the amount of heat generated is directly proportional to the square of the magnetic field strength. The subsequent reactions and processes are basically the same as those used in UHF therapy. Again, the feasibility of endogenous heat generation in the body with the help of the method of inductothermy raises great doubts.
A nonthermal effect occurs when an alternating high-frequency magnetic field is applied to a small and an extremely small intensity. It is caused by electrodynamic changes in liquid crystal structures and protein complexes (electric polarization, bioelectret effect, occurrence of conduction currents), their subsequent conformational transformations and all further reactions and processes.
The main clinical effects that inductothermy has: anti-inflammatory, secretory, vasodilating, myorelaxing, metabolic.
Equipment: "IKV-4", UHF-therapy apparatus with eddy current electrodes (EWT) - "UHF-30-2", "UHF-80-30", "Unda-thermal".
[Who to contact?