Whether you have a debilitating condition such as fibromyalgia or recently sustained a muscle injury, you may want to investigate a few superficial heat therapy treatments to help you manage pain and inflammation. Although superficial heat therapy treatments such as heating pads or hot water bottles may temporarily alleviate symptoms, ask your doctor which therapeutic methods work best for your injury.
Identification
Superficial heat therapy uses topical heat sources to treat painful medical conditions such as fibromyalgia, menstrual cramps, neck and back pain, headaches and arthritis. Superficial heat therapy produces effects that can be felt up to 2cm below the surface of your skin, says Dr. Gerard Malanga, pain management director at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey, on SpineUniverse.com.
Types
Types of superficial heat therapy products include hot water bottles, electrical heating pads, moist heat therapy products, infrared heat therapy rooms that emit heat onto the body and paraffin wax. Paraffin wax is an odorless, yellowish-white solid that's usually heated to liquid consistency and poured over the afflicted body part, such as your hand, finger or foot. The paraffin wax transfers the heat onto your affected body part, alleviates localized pain and reduces muscle spasms, according to orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Arun Pal Singh on BoneandSpine.com.
Methodology
Superficial heat therapy elevates your skin's and its underlying tissues' temperature enough to increase blood flow to the affected area. This process accelerates blood flow to your internal organs and muscles, which loosens and softens sore, stiff muscle tissue and ultimately alleviates your pain, according to AlternateHeals.com.
Considerations
Although superficial heat helps alleviate pain and abate muscle spasms, you should use superficial heat therapy in conjunction with a personalized fitness program, Malanga says. Superficial heat therapy is generally used in the beginning of a treatment program to reduce inflammation and localized pain. If it works, it can be incorporated into your long-term wellness plan, he says.
Expert Insight
Ice packs penetrate deeper than superficial heat therapy treatments, Malanga says. Ice packs can lower your internal muscular temperatures between 3 degrees C and 7 degrees C, which in turn reduces localized pain and inflammation around your affected area. However, ice packs can initiate frostbite and nerve injuries, so you should ask your doctor how to safely use ice packs for your injury before you treat yourself at home.
Member Comments