Thermotherapy
Heat therapy is often used in physiotherapy as a supportive measure. It belongs to thermotherapy and is mainly used to treat pain and non-inflammatory diseases. In therapy, the beneficial effect of heat is used by means of various heat carriers and sources such as infrared radiators, mud packs, water baths and heat cabinets. The effect on the body or on individual parts of the body ranges from stimulating blood circulation to relaxing muscles to relieving pain and stimulating the body's own metabolism.
Here you can find out what effect heat has on your body, when heat therapy is used and which different types of heat therapy are distinguished.
Thermotherapy: an alternative to conventional painkillers
1. When is thermotherapy used?
2. What types of thermotherapy are there?
3. How do I heat a heat transfer medium?
4. How does heat affect the body?
5. What you should bear in mind when using thermotherapy
6. Conclusion
When is thermotherapy used?
Thermal therapy is one of the oldest forms of therapy and is now an integral part of competitive sport and physiotherapy. Heat supports various healing processes and leads to faster regeneration after physical exertion. It is used above all when increased blood circulation is helpful for the recovery of the symptoms. For example, thermotherapy can be used for pain caused by muscle tension or chronic pain. Heat can also be used for injured ligaments, tendons, fascia, capsules or muscles, as it has a relaxing and regulating effect.
Areas of application for thermotherapy:
- For general muscle tension
- After operations and trauma to the musculoskeletal system
- For back pain
- For incomplete paralysis with spasmodically increased muscle tension (spastic paresis), for example as a result of a stroke
- For diseases caused by wear and tear such as osteoarthritis, slipped discs, spinal canal stenosis
- Chronic joint inflammation such as rheumatism (not in the acute stage!)
- For functional organ complaints such as abdominal pain due to irritable bowel syndrome
- For chronic respiratory diseases
- Chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system
- For restlessness and agitation (psychosomatic illnesses, nervousness)
What types of thermotherapy are there?
Thermal therapy uses various heat carriers to trigger heat stimuli. Measures are often combined to achieve the desired effect. Heat carriers are often used after a massage to loosen the muscles and reduce tension. These include:
Thermotherapy with infrared:
Infrared light generates heat on the part of the body to be treated. In contrast to other forms of thermotherapy, no physical heat carrier is placed directly on the skin, but only the respective part of the body is warmed using the infrared lamp. The infrared light first penetrates the upper layers of the skin and then reaches deeper layers. This promotes blood circulation and increases muscle relaxation.
Moor packs:
Natural moor is a purely natural product. It is contained in so-called moor packs, which are intended for single use. These are firmly pressed natural moor, which is covered with a layer of fleece and can be applied directly to the body. During treatment with peat packs, the heat can penetrate deep into the muscle layers, as it reaches not only the affected area but also the adjacent tissue.
How do I heat a heat transfer medium?
Different heat transfer media are used in thermotherapy. These heat transfer media are usually heated with the aid of a water bath or a heating cabinet. With a water bath, you can heat different heat transfer media such as mud packs evenly and quickly to provide your patient with the best therapy. Heating cabinets are also used in physiotherapy to heat or keep warm heat carriers such as fango kerosene or silicate packs.
How does heat affect the body?
Treatment with heat has a regulating effect on the distribution of heat in both superficial and deep tissue and leads to an intensification of the flow of heat in the body. Initially, the heat is absorbed via receptors in the skin, the thermoreceptors. These then notify our brain that the heat has been received and neurological reactions also reach deeper parts of the body and organs. When exposed to heat, the blood capillaries are opened and blood flow is increased. The increased blood flow then increases the removal of waste products and mediators, which can also lead to faster recovery. Tissue that is poorly supplied with blood or injured can also be better supplied with messenger substances and lead to faster healing. Heat also relaxes the muscles, makes the connective tissue more flexible and increases the fluidity (viscosity) of the synovial fluid. Nerve pathways that run through our body are relieved in this way.
What you should bear in mind when using thermotherapy
For certain illnesses, thermotherapy is only advisable in certain situations. It may therefore be advisable to consult a doctor as a precaution. We recommend that you take particular care with the application of heat in the following cases
- With a slipped disc
- With gout
- With osteoarthritis
- With cardiovascular weakness
- With fever
- With breathing difficulties
- With lymphoedema
- With skin inflammation
- and with high levels of body heat