Types of Heat Therapy
Type | Description | Comment | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
Heat applied to the body’s surface | |||
Infrared heat | Heat applied with a lamp, usually less than 20 minutes a day | Care needed to avoid burns Not used in people with an implanted metal device or reduced skin sensation (particularly to temperature and pain) | Arthralgia (joint pain) Arthritis (various forms) Back pain Fibromyalgia Muscle spasm Myalgia (muscle pain) Neuralgia (nerve pain) Sprains Strains Tenosynovitis (inflammation of tendons and their covering) Whiplash injuries |
Hot packs | Cotton cloth containers filled with silicate gel, usually warmed in a microwave oven | Can be wrapped in a towel to protect the skin from burns Same as for infrared heat | |
Paraffin bath | Dipping in, immersion in, or painting with melted wax | Usually applied to small joints, such as those of the hand, knee, or elbow Not used for open wounds | |
Hydrotherapy | Immersion in agitated warm water in a large industrial whirlpool | Enhances wound healing by stimulating blood flow and helping clean out burns and wounds Relaxes muscles and relieves pain Helps with range-of-motion exercises | |
Heat applied to deep tissues | |||
Ultrasound | High-frequency sound waves to penetrate deep into tissues, vibrating them and producing heat, which draws blood (with oxygen and nutrients) to the area | Not applied to tissues whose blood supply has been reduced (ischemia), numbed or actively infected areas, bones that are healing, or certain parts of the body (such as the eyes, brain, spinal cord, ears, heart, or reproductive organs) Not used in people with a tendency to bleed or cancer | Bone injuries Bursitis Complex regional pain syndrome Contractures Osteoarthritis Tendinitis |