Heat and Cold Therapy

What is Heat and Cold Therapy?

Heat and cold therapy is a recommended treatment for pain occurring due to muscle and joint damage. Using a hot water bottle or heated pads is common in hot therapy. On the other hand, cold therapy involves cold water bottles, pads cooled in the refrigerator or cold water. Alternation of hot and cold therapy enhances blood flow to the site of pain or injury.

While cold treatment reduces the blood flow and inflammation, heat therapy enhances the blood flow and allows the muscles to relax. Applying hot or cold therapy alternatively helps in reducing pain related to exercises. The heat applied must be tolerable, and avoid applying ice on the skin directly. Alternating patterns of heat and ice therapy are also called contrasting therapy. Heat therapy is effective for treating chronic pain and cold therapy can be used to treat inflamed or swollen muscles and joints. Cold therapy is effective when applied within 48 hours of the injury.

Types of Heat and Cold Therapy:

Applying heat to an inflamed part dilates the blood vessels, promotes blood flow, and relaxes the tight and sore muscles. With increased blood circulation, the body eliminates the lactic acid build-up occurring after some exercises. Heat therapy is more effective for treating chronic pain conditions. The types of heat therapy are:

• Application of heating devices on the affected area, such as electric heating pads, hot compress, hot water bottles, or heat wrap.
• Taking a hot or warm bath
• Using heated wax treatmentThe heat packs may be moist or dry. While dry heat application is permissible for up to eight hours, moist heat acts faster and can be applied for two hours. The application of heat should be for twenty minutes in each session. However, the patches or dry wraps can also be used for about eight hours.Cold therapy reduces the flow of blood over to the affected area. Therefore, the inflammation slows down and reduces the risk of tissue damage and swelling. Besides, applying ice or chilled water numbs the damaged or sore tissues and retards the pain message transmission to the brain. Ice helps in treating inflamed or swollen muscles and joints and used is for treating sports injuries. The types of cold therapy are:
• A cold compress or the application of an old pack on the affected area for twenty minutes every four to six hours.
• Immersing or soaking the injured area in cold water but not freezing.
• Massaging the injured area with ice cubes for about five minutes.
• When massaging with ice, direct application is permissible as the cubes do not stay in one place.
• Using frozen vegetables in a plastic bag or a dry cloth can be used as a cold compress.

Benefits of Hot and Cold therapy:

When applying hot and cold therapy, it is essential to use hot and cold alternatively. It is used for recovering from pain occurring due to injury. The following are the benefits to note.

• Reduction pain
• Improved blood circulation and reduced swelling
• Minimizing soreness in the muscles after exercises
• Reducing inflammation
• The increased energy level and recovery from exercises quickly
• Improved alertness and heart rate
• Enhanced mood