WAVELENGTH IN THE HEATING OF HUMAN TISSUES BY SHORT WAVE DIATHERMY

Short wave diathermy has introduced problems that are similar to those which confronted us when so-called conventional diathermy was first used. With conventional diathermy it was a slow tedious process to eliminate the many unwarranted claims. As a result of many investigations, the therapeutic possibilities as well as the therapeutic limitations became better understood. Many illusions were dispelled, but this field of therapy was placed on a more solid foundation.

A new impetus has been given to diathermy as a therapeutic agent since the introduction of short wave diathermy generators, and again the worker in this field is confronted with many confusing claims. He is told that short wave diathermy has specific biologic effects independent of the heat generated by the current, that it has specific bactericidal effects and that it has special selective thermal action, as well as a greater and more uniform generation of heat into the tissues.