What does warm (hot) therapy mean?
This is pain management using heat.
With warm therapy, it is possible to treat muscle pain and tension, mild trauma, and relieve symptoms.
During this method, the blood circulation improves, the flow flows to the area of the body where the heat is artificially induced. Against the background of temperature increase, discomfort weakens, muscle elasticity improves, the body slows down/experiences relaxation, damaged tissue begins to recover.
There are two types of heat therapy:
- Dry (using a warm pad, sauna, etc.);
- Moist heat (steamed towel, steamed warm pad, warm bath, etc.).
In both types of therapy, the ideal temperature is considered warm and hot is not allowed.
This method of pain management is also used in professional heat therapy, for example, warm temperature is induced in the affected area with ultrasound.
As already mentioned, warm therapy is allowed only for mild local pain. It is not allowed if the patient has an open wound or the affected area is swollen, bruising/hemorrhage is to be avoided.
Warm therapy is not allowed if you have the following diseases:
- Diabetes;
- Dermatitis;
- Blood vessel diseases;
- Deep vein thrombosis;
- Multiple sclerosis;
- Heart disease;
- High blood pressure.
It is not allowed for a pregnant woman to arbitrarily, without the recommendation of an obstetrician-gynecologist, put a warm pad on even a minor injury and also use other methods of warm therapy.
Source:
https://www.healthline.com/health/chronic-pain/treating-pain-with-heat-and-cold#cold-therapy
