Thermotherapy

Thermotherapy, is the use of heat in therapy, such as for pain relief and health. It can take the form of a hot cloth, hot water bottle, heating pad,  whirlpool baths and others. It is beneficial to those with arthritis and stiff muscles and injuries to the deep tissue of the skin. Heat may be an effective self-care treatment for conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Thermotherapy is most commonly used for rehabilitation purposes. The therapeutic effects of heat include increasing the extensibility of collagen tissues; decreasing joint stiffness; reducing pain; relieving muscle spasms; reducing inflammation, edema, and aids in the post acute phase of healing; and increasing blood flow. The increased blood flow to the affected area provides proteins, nutrients, and oxygen for better healing.

Direct Contact

Moist heat therapy has been believed to be more effective at warming tissues than dry heat, because water transfers heat more quickly than air. Moist heat is more effective than dry heat. Moist heat results in the perception that the tissue is heated more deeply. In fact, recent studies indicate that vasodilation, the expansion of the blood capillaries (vessels) to allow more blood flow, is improved with dry heat therapy.

Expansion of the blood capillaries is the primary objective of heat therapy. Heat therapy increases the effect on muscles, joints, and soft tissue. Heat is typically applied by placing a warming device on the relevant body part.

Mechanism of action, and indications

• Heat creates higher tissue temperatures, which produces vasodilation that increases the supply of oxygen and nutrients and the elimination of carbon dioxide and metabolic waste.
• Thermotherapy is useful for muscle spasms, myalgia, fibromyalgia, contracture, bursitis.
• Moist heat can be used on abscesses to help drain the abscess faster.
• A study showed Thermotherapy is effective in treating leishmaniasis, a tropical parasitic skin infection.
• Thermotherapy is also used in cancer treatment to augment the effect of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
• Thermotherapy is used for the treatment of headaches and migraines. Many people who suffer from chronic headaches also suffer from tight muscles in their neck and upper back. The application of constant heat to the back/upper back area help to release the tension associated with headache pain.
• Thermotherapy increases the extensibility of collagen tissues. Using heat, it can relieve the stiffness in joints in different cases.
• Shortwave and Microwave heat application reduce muscle spasms.
• Selective heating with microwaves accelerate absorption of hematomas. This will, in turn, allow the stiff muscle to stretch.
• Thermotherapy using hyperthermia has been used to treat cancer in combination with ionizing radiation.