When Should You Apply Hot Pack Therapy?

: Admin : 2021-11-02

In physical therapy clinics, hot packs are a common physical modality. Your physical therapist will apply them to the affected body area. Physical therapists wrap wet hot packs in multiple layers of towels and apply them directly to the exposed area that requires treatment.

What is Hot pack therapy?

Hot pack therapy means to heat the body to get rid of stiffness, pain and troubles of the body. When the area of pain is applied, the blood vessels dilate, due to which the blood easily carries nutrients throughout the body. Compression is very effective in getting rid of the problems caused by the injury.

When should you apply Hot pack therapy?

• strains
• Sprain
• Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that affects the joints (wear out of tissues in the joints of the knees, shoulders, elbows and fingers)
• Chronic irritation and hardening of tendons
• lower back pain
• Pain in the neck
• back injury pain

Types of Hot pack therapy

Hot pack therapy can be used for a long time. Heat therapy for 15 to 20 minutes is advised for minor injuries. Long bouts of heat therapy, such as a hot bath, are required for moderate to severe injuries.

• Dry heat: Electrical heating pads and hot water bottles are examples of dry heat items. You can use these things for 8 hours. Fill the bottle with hot water and apply it to the painful area. In the same way, you can change the heating pad and apply it to the painful area.
• Moist heat: Steamed towels soaked in hot water, moist heating packs, and hot water baths are examples of such sources. It is more effective than dry heat and produces results in less time.

Who should stay away from Hot pack therapy?

The use of moist heat and hot packs should be avoided in certain circumstances. These may include the following:

• In places where sensitivity is diminished or compromised (like having numbness or tingling)
• When a person's mental capacity is weakened,
• In the presence of open wounds
• Following an acute injury,
• Over hemarthrosis-prone joints
• Heat sensitivity is common among people with multiple sclerosis.