Treating pain with heat has been a conventional way of dealing with various injuries and conditions. If finding the best option for doing it properly has been a challenge, do not worry, as all this will be covered below. Heat therapy has been known to be effective with muscle pain, stiffness, together with inflammation. It helps improve blood circulation in the affected area. With adequate knowledge about it, you will understand how vital it is to your wellness. This article gives a deep insight into heat therapy.
How heat therapy works
As mentioned earlier, heat therapy focuses on improving blood flow to the affected area. Therefore, it warms up the area allowing the underlying blood vessels to vasodilate. As a result, it will enable blood, oxygen, and nutrients to circulate. It immediately relaxes the muscle and increases your flexibility. A therapy session should help relieve mild pain in 20 to 30 minutes, while longer sessions are recommended for severe cases.
When to use heat therapy
It can be challenging to decide the exact scenario to apply heat therapy. 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 of heat therapy
Heat therapy 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. They are well-trained individuals with the needed know-how on the best methods to manage your pain.
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.
