Hot, hot, hot - heat therapy

Instinctively, we often grab for a heated wheat pack when aches and pains rear their ugly head, but what does thermotherapy actually do?

Thermotherapy explained

It is a technique where heat is applied to body tissues in order to reduce pain, increase circulation, facilitate soft-tissue extensibility and generally improve healing in the older, or 'not so new' injuries. 

Thermotherapy causes blood vessels to dilate and allow more blood to flow to an area.  This in turn decreases pain, or increases the pain threshold.  Other benefits include increasing local metabolic rate, helping to relax muscle tension/spasm, increasing soft tissue extensibility and pliability, increasing range of movement, increasing the healing rate of soft tissue injuries, improving neuromuscular responses, facilitating recovery from training and bringing about the feeling of well-being.

Heat packs

These come in varying forms, from the aforementioned microwaveable wheat pack and the boil in the bag type affair, to the electric blanket.  The moist heat methods help to open the pores and encourage more effective hyperaemia.  The electric blanket offers a dry heat and can therefore somewhat dehydrate the skin.

Wheat packs, compresses and hot water bottles make cheap heat therapy items

Pain relief

Hot compresses can help to offer pain relief by stimulating the sensory receptors in the skin.  This in turn means a reduction in the transmission of pain signals to the brain, and some discomfort relief.  Thermoreceptors (sensory receptors that respond to hot and cold) are stimulated and this is what helps to block the pain receptors.

Collagen fibres become more elastic

Heat application helps the stretching of soft tissues - the good news is that this includes muscles, connective tissues and adhesions - scar tissue.  So, stiffness decreases and flexibility/comfort increases.  When elasticity and reactivity of muscle is improved, collagen fibres become more extensible and able to benefit from rehab exercises.

What other types of heat therapy are there?

Radiation therapy in the form of infra lamps, short-wave and microwave diathermy, high frequency electromagnetic waves, interferential, TENS and ultrasound.  You will often find Physiotherapists employing these methods.

So, there you go - the low-down on heat therapy.  Please do not use it on new injuries and seek advice for correct implementation.  Quick alternatives to a hot compress are hot water bottles.  Be careful not to scald and not to apply for more than 10 to 15 minutes depending on how large the area to be treated is.  There is also a form of treatment for the older injury where heat and cold therapy are alternately applied - I'll cover this soon.

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