4.1. Indications
Dermatology
• Abscess
• Alopecia
• Carbuncle
• Frostbite, local
• Furuncle
• Gonorrheal arthritis
• Herpes zoster
• Paronychia (initial stage)
• Post-herpetic neuralgia
Gynaecology
• Amenorrhoea
• Dysmenorrhoea
• "Low back pain"
• Mamma abscess
• Mastitis
• Menstrual irregularity
Internal Medicine
• Bronchial asthma
• Bronchiectasis
• Bronchitis chronica
• Cholecystitis
• Circulation disorders of the acra
• Pleuritis chronica sicca
• Raynaud's disease
Neurology
• Intercostal neuralgia
• Ischialgia
• Neuralgia in general
• Neuritis
• Occipital neuralgia
• Root pain (radiculitis)
Surgery and Orthopaedics
• Arthritis
• Arthropathy
• Arthrosis deformans
• Articular rheumatism
• Bechterew's disease (symptomatic only)
• Brachialgia
• Bursitis
• Calf cramp
• Contusions
• Coxarthrosis
• Coxitis
• Distortions
• Epicondylitis
• Haematoma
• Ischialgia
• Lumbago
• Muscle cramps
• Meniscopathy
• Myalgia
• Periostitis
• Polyarthritis rheumatica
• Spondylosis
18
• Tendinitis
• Torticollis
4. INDICATIONS AND CONTRA-INDICATIONS
4.2. Absolute contra-indications
• Patients with implanted heart pacemakers.
• Metallic endoprostheses in the treatment region.
• Melignant tumours. An increase in temperature
may result in an increase in the rate of growth of
the tumour or metastatic secondaries.
• Active tuberculosis or other active specific disor-
der.
4.3. Relative contra-indications
• Acute infectious disorders, especially when ac-
companied by high fever.
• Acute inflammatory processes of the bones and
joints. Warmth may, in certain circumstances, in-
duce or accelerate necrosis of the tissue. Fur-
thermore, local heating may be more severe than
anticipated in areas where the blood supply is
reduced or inhibited as a result of lacking normal
heat dissipation by blood circulation. Particular
care is necessary when deciding the dosage if
diathermy is used in the presence of ischemia or
severe tissue damage.
• Traumata and vascular lesions for the first 24 to
36 hours after the incident, in order to prevent
the danger of internal and external bleeding.
• Disorders in sensitivity to heat.
• Anaesthetized areas.
• In the region of the abdomen during menstrua-
tion.
• Patient with intra-uterine pessaries.
• Osteoporosis.
• Increased tendency towards bleeding and use of
anticoagulants.
• Thrombophilia.
• The epiphyseal disks must also be exempted with
children until the cessation of growth.
• The application of diathermy in the region of the
eyes. When treating the head e.g. nose or frontal
sinuses, it is recommended to take into account
the reduced vascularization of the eyes and pro-
vide a pair of protective goggles in order to avoid
heat stress. Microwave treatment of the eyes
should be carried out by an eye specialist.
• Wearers of contact lenses. Contact lenses may
inhibit heat dissipation and thus cause overheat-
ing of the eyes. They should be removed before
treatment in the head region.
• Treatment in the region of the testicles. Special
protective measures must be taken here since
the testicles are extremely sensitive to heat, which
may cause permanent damage or even sterility.
• Pregnancy. Special care must be taken to pro-
tect the embryo or foetus during microwave treat-
ment in the region of the abdomen.