Heat therapy, or thermotherapy, can refer to any method of applying warmth to the body, either in one particular area or over the entire body. Most commonly, thermotherapy is used in case of injuries or for pain relief, though it could also have other uses or medical benefits. Because heat widens blood vessels, it increases blood flow to the skin.
What is thermotherapy and how does it work?
Thermotherapy stems from the words “thermo” for heat and “therapia” for treatment. Thermotherapy is therefore a healing treatment using heat or different temperatures. It can be used to improve a wide range of health issues, from simple relaxation to deep healing of illness.
Which characteristics of the thermotherapy application can affect effectiveness?
Some of the characteristics of the thermotherapy application that can affect effectiveness are type of therapy (such as hot packs, cold packs, and ice packs ‐ administered with or without massage), duration of treatment application, length and schedule of treatment.
What is thermotherapy and cryotherapy?
Thermotherapy's counterpart and another element of our thermal programmes is treatment with cold, called cryotherapy. The interplay between hot and cold can have many benefits on the health. This concept can be found, for example, in the alternating baths and water jets of Kneipp therapy. What is thermotherapy?
What is thermotherapy for osteoarthritis?
Thermotherapy involves applying heat or cold to joints to improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis and can be done with packs, towels, wax, etc. Heat may work by improving circulation and relaxing muscles, while cold may numb the pain, decrease swelling, constrict blood vessels and block nerve impulses to the joint.
Why is thermotherapy used?
Thermotherapy (the therapeutic application of a heating agent) and cryotherapy (the therapeutic application of a cooling agent) are widely used treatments to reduce pain, oedema and muscle spasm, improve tissue healing and facilitate range of motion and function.
What injuries use thermotherapy?
Cryotherapy and thermotherapy are useful adjuncts for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and soft tissue injuries.
Which of the following are examples of thermotherapy?
Examples of thermotherapy include heat packs, heat wraps, hot water baths, infrared modalities, Class IV laser modalities, and topical creams.
Why is heat therapy used?
Heat therapy dilates blood vessels (vasodilation), which increases blood flow. This improves blood circulation in the painful or stiff area. Heat also transfers from the skin surface deep into the muscles, and improves blood circulation into the muscles.
What is cryotherapy used for?
Cryotherapy is the use of extreme cold to freeze and remove abnormal tissue. Doctors use it to treat many skin conditions (including warts and skin tags) and some cancers, including prostate, cervical and liver cancer. This treatment is also called cryoablation.
When is electrotherapy used?
Electrotherapy has been used to address chronic pain and chronic fatigue in general, as well as: Diabetic nerve pain. Fibromyalgia. Migraine headaches.
Which ray can be used for heat treatment?
IR radiation is more useful than the visible radiation for heating our body, because we absorb most of it, compared to a strong reflection of visible light. Penetration depth of infrared radiation in our skin is dependent of wavelength.
What is thermotherapy in plants?
Thermotherapy, simple in principle, consists in heat treatment of plant parts at temperature/time regimes that kill the conserved pathogen and that are only slightly injurious to the host. Heat is applied mainly by water, air, or vapor.
When do you use cryotherapy and thermotherapy?
Both cryotherapy and thermotherapy can be effective in reducing pain and helping you fight certain conditions. Sometimes, cryotherapy and thermotherapy are used together to achieve the best results. Cryotherapy can help in the first stages, while thermotherapy can help in the final stages of fighting pain and injury.