People have long treated pain with heat to address various injuries and conditions. If you have struggled to find the best way to do it properly, don’t worry we will cover everything below. Heat therapy effectively relieves muscle pain, reduces stiffness, and eases inflammation. It also improves blood circulation in the affected area. Once you understand how it works, you will see how vital it is to your wellness. This article offers a deep insight into the process.
How heat therapy works
As mentioned earlier, heat therapy improves blood flow to the affected area. It warms the area and allows the underlying blood vessels to dilate. This process helps blood, oxygen, and nutrients circulate freely. It immediately relaxes the muscle and increases your flexibility. A therapy session can relieve mild pain in 20 to 30 minutes, while experts recommend longer sessions for severe cases.
When to use it:
It can be challenging to decide the exact scenario to apply it. This therapy option is more effective for pain caused by muscle stiffness and tension. You should, however, not use it around a bruised area or open wounds. If you have pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, dermatitis, and multiple sclerosis, you should not use heat therapy. It puts you at risk of burns.
Types:
It is broadly categorized into dry heat and moist heat. Dry heat also called conducted heat therapy entails using electrical heating pads or packs for the heat application.
On the other hand, sweltering heat, also called convention heat, involves using a sauna, moist heating packs, a hot bath, and steamed towels. Its advantage over dry heat is that it is effective and requires less application time.
Both types of heat therapy can be done from the convenience of your home. You can also opt to go to a specialist who uses ultrasound, a more effective method.
Conclusion
Heat therapy is an excellent way to heal pain from swelling and muscle stiffness. For best results with the therapy, get to know the proper conditions and the correct amount of time for each session to avoid risks of burns. You have the option of using dry heat or moist heat. Both offer relief from pain. However, you can opt to use the services of a professional. Read about car accident
Contact us
If you are experiencing pain due to muscle stiffness and tension, consider doing some heat therapy at home. However, we have skilled professionals to take care of this pain, call or visit total balance for the best heat therapy services.
