Heat Therapy
Heat therapy, also known as thermotherapy, involves the application of heat to the body to relieve pain, increase circulation and mobility, and assist in the healing process. Frequently used by chiropractors and physical therapists, heat therapy has a long medical history as an a means of rehabilitation. Moist heat is sometimes considered even more effective because water carries heat more rapidly than air, though research has not confirmed this.
Types of Heat Therapy
There are many ways of applying heat to the body, some simple and some more complex. Types of heat therapy include:
- Warm cloths
- Warm baths
- Heating pads
- Heat therapy wraps
- Whirlpool treatments
- Hydrocollators
- Ultrasound
- Infrared lamps
By increasing blood flow, and thus carrying oxygen and nutrients to affected areas, heat therapy can provide relief for a number of troubling conditions, from small injuries to serious underlying disease conditions.
Reasons to Use Heat Therapy
Heat therapy can be beneficial to a great number of patients, including those suffering from:
- Stiffness or pain
- Muscle soreness or spasms
- Arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Inflammation and edema
- Deep tissue injury
- Fibromyalgia
- Bursitis
- Contracture
- Neuralgia
The primary benefit of heat therapy is that it expands the capillaries, a process called vasodilation, which not only supplies nutrients and oxygen to an area of injury or inflammation, but also helps the affected area to rid itself more quickly of carbon dioxide and other waste products or toxins.
Contraindications to Heat Therapy
Heat therapy, while a very effective means of treatment in many cases, should be avoided where patients lack sensitivity, such as in scar tissue or areas where there is nerve damage. Heat therapy should not be used in the case of acute injuries, since it will increase bleeding. It is also contraindicated when infection or malignancy makes local tissue more susceptible to cellular necrosis.