What is Thermotherapy?

Thermal therapies work by affecting the superficial, intra-articular (joint structures) and core temperature of soft tissues. Appropriate use of cryotherapy (decreasing temperature) and thermotherapy (increasing temperature) is useful for treating numerous musculoskeletal conditions and injuries and providing natural pain relief. Ice or heat often decreases pain in muscles, tendons, and joints. These interventions have the opposite effects to each other on oedema, blood flow, inflammation, cellular metabolism, and tissue tension.

The most common methods of applying heat to soft tissues are heat packs.  baths, saunas, and infra-red lamps.  Usually after a remedial massage heat is the better option to reduce muscular tension returning.

The most common methods of applying cold to the tissues are frozen gel packs, ice baths, ice, and coolant sprays.

The benefits of heat therapy

When the temperature of the skin/soft tissue increases – blood flow increases through an effect called vasodilatation. Vasodilation occurs in the capillaries – the smallest and most numerous blood vessels and means that the muscles in the walls of the vessels relax (like opening a tap to full) permitting more blood to travel through the vessel. As a result cellular metabolism increases.  In theory, this will increase the healing response by promoting inflammation – which may or may not be desirable for your injury.  Usually after a remedial massage heat is the better option to reduce muscular tension returning.

The benefits of cold therapy

When the temperature of the skin/soft tissue decreases the blood flow slows down through a process called vasoconstriction. Tissue metabolism will also slow – neuronal excitability (nerve conduction – pain bandwidth), inflammation also reduce, as does tissue extensibility (structures tighten up). When joints decrease below 30°C the activity of cartilage damaging enzymes such as protease, hyaluronidase and elastase is inhibited.  A slow metabolic rate reduces further damage.

The benefits of heat therapy

When the temperature of the skin/soft tissue increases – blood flow increases through an effect called vasodilatation. Vasodilation occurs in the capillaries – the smallest and most numerous blood vessels and means that the muscles in the walls of the vessels relax (like opening a tap to full) permitting more blood to travel through the vessel. As a result cellular metabolism increases.  In theory, this will increase the healing response by promoting inflammation – which may or may not be desirable for your injury.

Usually after a remedial massage heat is the better option to reduce muscular tension returning via vasodilation.

The benefits of cold therapy

Applying cold to in injury has an analgesic effect through slowed inflammatory response and a process that confuses the pain receptors through the sensation of cold.  When the temperature of the skin/soft tissue decreases the blood flow slows down through a process called vasoconstriction. Tissue metabolism will also slow – neuronal excitability (nerve conduction – pain bandwidth), inflammation also reduce, as does tissue extensibility (structures tighten up). When joints decrease below 30°C the activity of cartilage damaging enzymes such as protease, hyaluronidase and elastase is inhibited.  A slow metabolic rate reduces further damage.

The benefits of heat therapy When the temperature of the skin/soft tissue increases – blood flow increases through an effect called vasodilatation. Vasodilation occurs in the capillaries – the smallest and most numerous blood vessels and means that the muscles in the walls of the vessels relax (like opening a tap to full) permitting more blood to travel through the vessel. As a result, cellular metabolism increases. In theory, this will increase the healing response by promoting inflammation – which may or may not be desirable for your injury. Usually after a remedial massage heat is the better option to reduce muscular tension returning. The benefits of cold therapy When the temperature of the skin/soft tissue decreases the blood flow slows down through a process called vasoconstriction. Tissue metabolism will also slow – neuronal excitability (nerve conduction – pain bandwidth), inflammation also reduce, as does tissue extensibility (structures tighten up). When joints decrease below 30°C the activity of cartilage damaging enzymes such as protease, hyaluronidase and elastase is inhibited. A slow metabolic rate reduces further damage.

When the temperature of the skin/soft tissue increases – blood flow increases through an effect called vasodilatation. Vasodilation occurs in the capillaries – the smallest and most numerous blood vessels and means that the muscles in the walls of the vessels relax (like opening a tap to full) permitting more blood to travel through the vessel. As a result cellular metabolism increases. In theory, this will increase the healing response by promoting inflammation – which may or may not be desirable for your injury. Usually after a remedial massage heat is the better option to reduce muscular tension returning.

You can gain natural pain relief using thermotherapy for many different conditions, some include

• Low back pain
• Neck & shoulder pain
• Menstrual pain
• Sciatica pain
• Tendon and nerve pain

You can gain natural pain relief using thermotherapy for many different conditions, some include:

• Low back pain
• Neck & shoulder pain
• Menstrual pain
• Sciatica pain
• Tendon and nerve pain

People with decreased sensation, such as diabetic neuropathy in the feet – are not advised to use thermo-therapies in the area with reduced sensitivity.  Burns can easily occur.

You can gain natural pain relief using thermotherapy for many different conditions, some include:

• Low back pain
• Neck & shoulder pain
• Menstrual pain
• Sciatica pain