I.
Heat therapy
1.
Effect of Heat
2.
Indications
3.
Contraindications
4.
Types of treatments
non-specialized
specialized
II.
Cold therapy
1.
Effect of Heat
2.
indications
3.
Contraindications
4.
Types of treatments
non-specialized
specialized
Thermotherapy
is the section of physical therapy in which we use the impact of
heat and cold with indications to speeds up recovery time. We
distinguish different types of treatments, that can be used under the
guidance of a doctor, a physiotherapist, and if we have the
appropriate knowledge, can be used as the non-specialist forms. It is
important to understand the simple laws which we can use it to
achieve adequate goals for our benefit. I would also mention that
these treatments are designed to help, but if the situation requires
more advanced treatments, such as use of the sauna, hydrotherapy,
special design showers, water massages, as well as cryotherapy or use
of the cryo -chamber. If you think that your problem cannot be
solved, I recommend you enlist the advice of professionals.
I.
Heat therapy
Everybody loves swimming in the warm or even hot water. That's why we
love summer. We love to sink in a bathtub full of hot water, or maybe
use of the hot shower after a hard day's work? We all know it and we
love it. However have you ever wondered influence of the heat on our
body? I would like to mention briefly about some two very important
issues. They were a two gentlemen who have been studying this
phenomenon. They formulated two laws named with use of their name:
1. Law of van't Hoff, formulated by Jacobus Henricus van 't
Hoff, Jr. was a Dutch, whose passion was chemistry in which he won
the Nobel Prize in that field. This law tells us that an increase of
the temperature by 1 Celsius degree also increases metabolism by
17%, increase of oxygen consumption, acceleration of metabolism,
mainly carbohydrates and fats. Enzymes act effectively at a higher
temperature, but cannot cross 40 ° C where occurs denaturation of
proteins.
2. Law of Dastre'a Morata formulated by Jean-Pierre Morat and
Albert Dastre both were physiologists. With their study they have
recognized the physiological response of the body in which "the
vasoconstriction of the capillaries of the body surface is usually
accompanied by vasodilation of the internal vessels, especially of
the viscera, and vice-versa" under cold influence the blood
vessels located in the lower and upper limbs they are shrinking and
the inner vessels are expanding (in the chest and the abdominal
cavity). The opposite situation is with influence of heat. For
example where in the cold environment, our brain is more supplied
with blood and works better our attention. However, with influence of
heat inner vessels are shrinking and the vessels in the upper and
lower limbs are expanding in order to give the excess of heat in the
form of "sweat and waste" the products of metabolism.
Therefore, it is why we are feeling sometimes numb in hot days ...
Generally everyone should remember to drink a lot of liquids in that
days.
1.
Effect of heat
There
are two types of action
general
on our whole body
local
on a selected areas
The
general impact:
- Increase metabolism and stimulate circulation
- effect of anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral,
- intensifies the effects of some medications
The
local impact:
- influence blood flow and nutrition of tissues,
- analgesic ailments caused by increased muscle tension,
overtraining, occurrence of soreness,
- contractures, with the aim of improving the extensibility of
collagen tissue,
- anti-inflammatory. Here you have to be careful with a diagnosis of
the type of inflammation. Therefore, in exudative inflammation it is
the kind of fluid accumulation in a particular place and in acute
inflammation use only cold!
- resorption that is in the process of absorption of infiltrates or
traumatic hematomas - not only in the first period after injury
Undesirable
effects are such as:
- improves blood circulation latent infection and inflammation,
- activation of the enzymes responsible for the destruction of
cartilage collagen,
- permeability of vascular wall is increased, causing swelling and
bleeding,
- causes interference in the activities of the heart and circulatory
system.
2.
Indications:
-
increased muscle tension,
-
contractures,
-
soreness,
- the
bruises and soft tissue injuries (after the termination of acute
inflammation),
-
degenerative conditions of the spine and joints,
-
diseases of the joints,
-
scars,
-
postoperative adhesions,
-
rheumatic changes,
-
chronic inflammation.
3.
Contraindications:
- acute
and sub-acute inflammation, tightening in the course of chronic
diseases such. Arthrosis, fresh disc prolapse, swelling, bleeding,
tumors, peripheral circulatory disorders, blood clots, post
thrombotic inflammation of veins, severe heart and circulatory
system,
-
conditions after fresh injuries,
- in
infants,
-
atherosclerosis,
-
ulcers of the stomach and duodenum,
- high
blood pressure,
-
sensory disturbances,
-
treatment with use of the sauna should not be taken 24 before
important events or direct training, and after as well - due to
dehydration of the body; menstruation in women; fever.
4.
Types of treatments
Having
a general nature and is affecting the entire system
Non-specialized
for example:
- hot
shower,
-
bathing in the hot tub,
- hot
tub with hydro massage,
- home
sauna,
Specialized:
-
hydrotherapy - based on the external water is used with different
forms: liquid, solid or gas with a temperature and pressure of the
water,
-
balneotherapy - section of the physiotherapy which is dealing with
the wide application of water at different temperatures,
- dry
steam cabinet,
-
special wooden cupboard, in which the patient is inside, while the
head remains on the outside,
-
heating with use of the hot sand. Applying a pouch with coarse after
heating to the temperature. 40 - 46 ° C while the total dust bathing
is carried out in wooden vats or plastic material, which are filled
with dry sand heated to a temperature of 40 - 45 ° C; in a bath of
sand sick sitting in a bathtub buried to the height of the lower ribs
level;
- dry
Roman Sauna - special adapted room in which the air is heated to the
temperature of 40 -60 ° C by means of stoves or electric heaters,
- Sauna
- depending on the temperature and residence time spend in the
chamber can be increased to stress out or for heat workout of the
thermo regulation system in our body; the principle of each workout
is a repeat reaction with gradation of intensity, so you should carry
out a series of treatments. It is important to use 1 h after the last
meal. Heating methodology consists of two phases is 5-15 minutes
heating and after that time the cooling period. The minimum length of
the procedure is 10-25 minutes.
- a hot
stone massage,
The
nature of the local
Non-specialized:
- hot
water bottle - rubber bag filled with hot water (2/3); on areas of
the body, which intends to warm up, you must first apply a dry towel
and water bottle; woolen cloth cover to prevent rapid cooling,
-
paraffin heated in hot water, the use as above,
-
heating pad,
Specialized:
-
radiation heating by means of IR lamps, with a wavelength range of
770 to 1500 nm
-
ultrasound - the influence of heat, mechanical and chemical.
II. Cold therapy
1. Influence of the cold
We
divided into two phases with influence on a general body system or
local body parts:
Phase
I, as follows using the cold
Phase
II occurs after the treatment
Phase
I, is associated with narrowing of the blood vessels, or
decreased metabolism, reduced acute inflammation, decrease swelling,
worse supply of oxygen and nutrients, there is an increase in muscle
tone, and if we find, for example in a cold environment, the
occurrence of goosebumps related calling tension with the aim of
increasing the body temperature, the body's defensive reaction. Pain
reduction, eg. having a local influence by reducing the excitability
of nerve conduction velocity and by nerve impulses.
Phase
II, blood vessels are extending which leads to better blood
circulation, and the tissue nutrition, oxygenation, reduce tension,
reduce or abolish the pain.
Physiological
consequences:
-
reduction of breaths,
- the
exemption of pulse,
-
increase of the metabolism mainly of carbohydrates and fats,
-
redness after treatment,
-
faster convalescence,
-
reducing the excitability of nerve,
-
blocking the passage of pain impulses in the spinal cord, the
strongest not reach the cerebral cortex,
-
stimulate "endogenous opioid system" of an analgesic,
-
general influence were internal body vessels extend which affects our
mood - blood supply of the brain which improves mental functions -
eliminates fatigue, increased need for movement and disappearance of
clinical depressive syndromes,
-
increase immunity by increasing lymphocytes,
-
anti-inflammatory,
-
cooling the skin which turns to red, with further cooling occurs
cyanosis.
2.
Indications:
- acute
inflammation,
-
injuries of joints and soft tissues to 5 days after occurrence,
-
swelling,
-
burns,
-
regeneration of tired muscles,
-
neuralgia, peripheral nerve. For example sciatica, but use only in
the appropriate positioning of the body, not to enlarge the
consequences,
-
increased muscle tension,
-
thrombophlebitis in the initial period,
-
lymphoedema,
-
psoriasis,
- gout,
-
discopathy,
- AS -
ankylosing spondylitis,
- RA -
rheumatoid arthritis,
-
arthrosis deformans - degenerative diseases of the joints,
-
spastic paresis (excessive muscle strain - muscle hypertrophy).
3.
Contraindications:
-
Sudeck syndrome,
-
varicose veins drumsticks,
-
diabetes,
-
paroxysmal tachycardia,
- the
metal in the deep tissue,
-
Reynaud's disease,
- skin
lesions after radial,
-
inflammation of the renal pelvis,
-
frostbite.
4.
Types of treatments
Having
a general nature affecting the entire system
Non-specialized,
for example:
- cold
baths in the tub,
- cold
shower,
-
bathing in the snow,
-
swimming in the cold sea,
Specialized:
-
cryogenic chamber where the person enters a specialized chamber in
which the temperature reaches minus - 120 ° C
The
nature of the local
Non-specialized:
-
compresses with ice cubes, frozen foods, etc.
-
Chilled towels from the refrigerator,
- cold
silicone bags,
-
massage with use of ice cube,
- cold
aerosols,
-
single cooling compresses containing a substance which when mixed
cause endothermic reaction; the reaction is initiated, eg. by hitting
the bag.
Specialized
-
Cryotherapy from 0 ° C to minus -130 ° C using liquid nitrogen, in
the evaporating temperature.
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