Therapy with elements of nature has been used since ancient times in all nations. Sand treatment and various inhalations can improve the condition after any inflammation, including after pneumonia - pneumonia.
Physiotherapy for pneumonia is suitable for both children and adults. Moreover, it is not necessary to go to expensive hospitals for rehabilitation therapy, it can also be carried out at home.
The origins of physiotherapy
Such therapy was born a very long time ago, the exact date can not even be established. It is customary to distinguish 3 periods during which discoveries in the field of physiotherapy occurred.
- 1 period. From III millennium BC - I millennium AD. During this period in the history of mankind, people intuitively applied all the factors of physical reality to improve health. No special techniques were used.
- Somewhere from the 1st millennium AD until the end of the 17th century, the period of experiments and medical research based on observations of patients lasted. In this era, for the first time, reasoned methods and methods of treatment using mineral waters and mud appear. There is evidence that Avicenna prescribed such a procedure as sand treatment to his patients. This procedure is once again popular in our time. People were also treated with electric fish and hirudotherapy.
- The third period of the development of the science of the healing power of physical phenomena can be considered the middle of the XVIII century. At this time, physics was actively developing. DC experiments were conducted. Then, thanks to the development of technology and electricians, electrophoresis, EHF-therapy, magnetotherapy and many other treatment methods appeared.
What physiotherapy methods for pneumonia are most effective and which ones are allowed for children to use? We will try to analyze all the nuances of these issues.
The main methods of physiotherapy
Physiotherapy for pneumonia is used as an additional treatment. Such treatment helps to reduce the burden on the liver and heart, since not all people easily tolerate antibiotics.
When can physiotherapy be used? Immediately after removing the heat and eliminating suppuration, if any. Necessary drug electrophoresis. UHF therapy is often performed and after discharge for a while, radiation should be carried out on the area of the focus of inflammation.
Also used depending on the characteristics of the patient's condition:
- ozokerite therapy;
- ion galvanization - a course of 10-12 sessions;
- diathermy;
- applications from paraffin, mustard plasters.
In cases where concomitant diseases are observed, such as tonsillitis, sinusitis or otitis media, especially for children, additional methods of physiotherapy are carried out. These include aromatherapy, oil inhalation, speleotherapy - treatment by exhaling specific cave air, and other methods.
The tasks of physiotherapy for inflammation
Physiotherapy for pneumonia is prescribed by the attending physician. It determines the number of procedures, duration. A patient without these methods will suffer longer from coughing attacks, and it will be harder to recover.
What gives the use of physiotherapy to the patient?
- The body's immune defense is enhanced, especially after a course of strong antibiotics.
- Blood circulation improves.
- Sputum faster when coughing, which continues long after the acute period.
- Procedures give anti-inflammatory effect and analgesic.
The use of various methods of non-drug therapy reduces the risk of complications. Indicated primarily for those who are prone to allergic reactions to drugs.
Physiotherapy for acute pneumonia
In the acute process, when the patient suffocates, it is not allowed to conduct physiotherapeutic procedures. However, when the temperature was able to bring down in 3-4 days to 37 ° C, the person feels a little better, and there are no special contraindications, the doctor can prescribe one of the following procedures:
- Inhalation of bronchodilators. It is carried out either by a nebulizer, or using an ultrasonic inhaler. With the help of these funds, the necessary medications get inside.
- UHF therapy directly to the site of inflammation. First, a small power is given - 30-40 W, then it can gradually be increased. The duration of the procedure for the first time is about 5 minutes. Only 3-5 procedures are enough to improve the general condition, relieve inflammation and pain. Indeed, in complex cases, the patient is painful to breathe.
- Electrophoresis of the antibiotic interstitial. The procedure significantly improves blood circulation to the lungs and metabolism.
- UFO projection of the inflammatory focus. The course is only 5 days.
Physiotherapy for pneumonia in adults helps to not only improve well-being, ease breathing, but is also the best treatment for those who have heart failure or kidney problems. In such cases, taking antibiotics can be dangerous.
When the acute period has passed, other physiotherapy methods for pneumonia can be used: inductothermy, laser therapy, magnetic therapy.
Contraindications
Like every type of treatment therapy, non-drug effects on the body have their contraindications. Each patient needs a special approach.
Who is not allowed physiotherapy for pneumonia? Contraindications:
- emphysema;
- neoplasms;
- pneumothorax;
- heart failure of 1 or 2 stages;
- temperature 38 ° C and above;
- impaired hematopoietic function;
- severe stages of nervous breakdowns;
- purulent processes.
Extremely rare, but it happens that the patient shows an individual intolerance to some physiotherapeutic method. Then it is necessary either to completely stop such therapy before restoring strength and health, or to replace the prescribed procedure with a more gentle one.
Galvanization in pneumonia
What is galvanization and how is it used to treat pneumonia? With electrophoresis (or galvanization), a direct current of small force acts on the site of inflammation. The therapeutic effect occurs due to the improvement of metabolic processes in the lung tissue due to the redistribution of ions in the lung cells.
If dominant cathode procedures are applied, the effects will be: improved metabolism, stimulation of biologically active substances, relaxation. But if the positive charge dominates - the anode, the effects are different: reduction of inflammation, sedation, removal of excess fluid. It is the anode charge that is used to treat pneumonia.
The course of electrophoresis can last up to 30 minutes. The number of procedures is from 5 with a mild course, to 20. The current strength is initially small, but increases with each procedure. For each patient, a physiotherapist selects the desired amperage, since each has its own sensitivity. It happens that the patient does not tolerate the effects of current. Electrophoresis in such cases is immediately canceled.
What procedures are suitable for children?
Physiotherapy for pneumonia in children is different. Some methods that are suitable for adults are forbidden for children, or have a shorter duration.
Children are allowed:
- quartzing;
- conduct breathing exercises;
- conventional electrophoresis;
- chest massage;
- thermal procedures after the acute stage is behind;
- Exercise therapy.
Children from the age of 12 are allowed to conduct inductophoresis. What is this procedure? This is the use of inductothermy on the area between the shoulder blades, which alternates with electrophoresis with drugs. Inductophoresis is allowed for use by adolescents no longer than 6-8 minutes.
Treatment for very young children
What physiotherapy is prescribed for pneumonia in young children? Children under one year of age cannot be prescribed any procedure other than therapeutic massage, it is possible with honey. And also some thermal effects on the chest are allowed.
For a child of this age, massage is very important. He needs additional stimulation of the bronchi so that sputum can exit the lungs.
How to carry out procedures at home?
At home, they are treated for about a month after discharge from the hospital, if there was bacterial, severely ongoing pneumonia with a heart complication. But when the inflammation is focal, the temperature is not too high and the person has no problems with immunity, he is not put in a hospital, but antibiotics and physiotherapy are prescribed at home. It’s great if the patient has a nebulizer nebulizer or an ultraviolet lamp. But if not, ordinary mustard plasters and banks will do. Nevertheless, as long as there is a temperature, and one more day after its decline, these methods cannot be used.
Young healthy people with strong immunity after undergoing not too serious pneumonia are sometimes not prescribed any special procedures. However, vitamins and restorative massage are a great way to maintain your immunity after a course of antibiotics.
Physiotherapy after pneumonia in children can last six months. In any case, for 3 months more it is advisable to carry out preventive aromatherapy from time to time. Essential oils, by the way, can kill bacteria in the air. The recovery period is very important. After severe inflammation, the body is weak, and the child must be protected from hypothermia and colds.
So, physiotherapy for pneumonia can be carried out outside the hospital walls. This is especially true for epileptics with frequent seizures that need personal care.
Recovery period
After the patient with pneumonia has practically recovered and the recovery period is already underway, he can use massages that improve lung drainage, physiotherapy exercises and more. Be sure the doctor recalls that you need to carry out breathing exercises for a long period of time, use aromatherapy at home using essential oils of eucalyptus or pine. It is useful to use honey, alternative medicines with ginger or aloe for medicinal purposes.
The treatment will last longer without the use of physiotherapy. With pneumonia in children at home, they use such a tool as propolis, an important beekeeping product. Propolis is a natural antibiotic and does not lead to allergies.