Massage and heat therapy are effective conservative care methods. According to the Merck Manuals website, massage therapy and heat therapy are two distinct treatment methods that help reduce pain and inflammation in tissues throughout the body. In some cases, however, a practitioner--usually a massage therapist--will combine the two techniques for synergistic effects. Hot stone massage is an example of a therapeutic technique that incorporates both massage and heat therapy for healing or relaxation.
History
Massage and heat therapy have been used for thousands of years to heal the body and promote relaxation of the body's tissues. According to TheBodyworker.com, the oldest known book written about massage comes from China, around the year 3000 B.C. Massage, in its various manifestations, has been practiced for centuries in many countries around the world, including Egypt, India, Greece and Japan. Heat therapy has also been around for thousands of years. HeatTherapy.info states that the Egyptians, along with other ancient civilizations, used heat therapy for the purposes of healing.
Purpose
There are many purposes associated with both massage and heat therapy. According to the Merck Manuals website, massage therapy can help relieve pain, decrease swelling and restore normal tone to tight or contracted tissue. Massage therapists and other bodyworkers may perform trigger-point therapy to reduce or eliminate trigger points--hyper-irritable nodules or knots within a tight band of muscle. Heat therapy is intended to boost circulation and improve connective tissue flexibility. It may also reduce joint stiffness, pain and muscle spasms.
Types
Numerous types of massage therapy and heat therapy exist. According to MassageTherapy.com, different types of massage include Swedish, aromatherapy, hot stone, deep tissue, shiatsu and Thai. Other types of massage--including pregnancy massage, sports massage and reflexology or foot massage--are also commonly practiced in the United States. Heat therapy also has many manifestations, including hot packs, infrared heat, paraffin wax baths, hydrotherapy, diathermy and ultrasound, states the Merck Manuals website.
Conditions
Massage therapy and heat therapy--combined or separately--can treat numerous health problems, especially problems of the musculoskeletal system. According to the Owensboro Medical Health System, a medical health system serving Western Kentucky and Southern Indiana, massage therapy may be effective for stress, headaches, pregnancy, premenstrual syndrome and fibromyalgia. Heat therapy is particularly effective for treating arthritis, muscle spasms, muscle strains and ligament sprains. Used together, massage and heat therapy can help tight tissues relax.
Contraindications
A person with certain health problems or conditions should avoid massage and heat therapy. According to MassageManual.com, contraindications for massage therapy include the following: the first three months of pregnancy, having a high temperature or fever, open wounds, cuts and bruising, widespread inflammation, cancer, infectious skin diseases or broken bones or fractures. The Sports Injury Clinic states that contraindications for heat therapy include people with the following health problems: diabetes or other conditions that affect sensory nerves, heat-related injuries, circulatory problems, infections, cancer and acute injuries.
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