diathermy

Meanings

1. 1noununcountablemedicaltechnical

   A medical treatment that sends high-frequency electric current through body tissue to produce heat inside it.

   Grammar: Used without 'a' or a plural: 'The surgeon used diathermy to seal the wound.'

   Patterns

   • use diathermy
   • diathermy treatment
   • diathermy unit

   The physiotherapist applied diathermy to the patient's lower back to ease the muscle pain.

   During the operation, the surgeon used diathermy to close small blood vessels.

   Deep-heat diathermy is often combined with stretching exercises.

2. 2nouncountablemedicaltechnical

   The equipment or device that produces such heating current.

   Grammar: Countable when it means a machine: 'a diathermy', 'two diathermies'.

   Patterns

   • a diathermy machine
   • an diathermy unit

   The clinic bought a new diathermy for the rehabilitation room.

   Make sure the diathermy is switched off before you leave.

Common combinations

diathermy treatment

Diathermy treatment can reduce pain without drugs.

diathermy machine

The technician checked the diathermy machine before the session.

deep-heat diathermy

Deep-heat diathermy reaches tissues below the skin.

apply diathermy

The nurse applied diathermy to the swollen joint.

Synonyms and how they differ

electrocautery

Electrocautery uses a heated probe to burn tissue, while diathermy usually heats deeper tissue without destroying it.

thermotherapy

Thermotherapy is a broader term for any heat-based treatment; diathermy is specifically electrical.

Word family

diathermic adjective

Relating to or produced by diathermy.

Commonly confused: diathermy or diathesis?

Practice

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