Capacitive diathermy tends to heat tissue more superficially than induction diathermy. True or False?

Capacitive diathermy tends to heat tissue more superficially than induction diathermy. True or False?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not enough information
• D. Depends on tissue type

Answer: (A)

Capacitive diathermy heats tissue where the electric field is strongest, which tends to be in the superficial layers near the electrodes—skin and subcutaneous fat. The electric field concentrates energy at these near-surface tissues due to the arrangement of the capacitor plates and the differing dielectric properties of superficial tissues. Inductive diathermy, on the other hand, uses a magnetic field from a coil that penetrates deeper into the body and induces eddy currents in deeper tissues like muscle, producing heating there. Because the magnetic field couples more readily with deeper tissues, heating tends to occur deeper rather than just at the surface. So the statement that capacitive diathermy tends to heat tissue more superficially than induction diathermy is true. While tissue properties can modulate exact heating, the general pattern holds.

Capacitive diathermy heats tissue where the electric field is strongest, which tends to be in the superficial layers near the electrodes—skin and subcutaneous fat. The electric field concentrates energy at these near-surface tissues due to the arrangement of the capacitor plates and the differing dielectric properties of superficial tissues. Inductive diathermy, on the other hand, uses a magnetic field from a coil that penetrates deeper into the body and induces eddy currents in deeper tissues like muscle, producing heating there. Because the magnetic field couples more readily with deeper tissues, heating tends to occur deeper rather than just at the surface. So the statement that capacitive diathermy tends to heat tissue more superficially than induction diathermy is true. While tissue properties can modulate exact heating, the general pattern holds.