Introduction
In most of its forms of application, heat therapy belongs to the field of physiotherapy and is classified as a thermotherapy. As a rule, non-inflammatory diseases and pain are treated with heat. This heat can be generated by various sources.
Different therapeutic effects are attributed to heat. These include improved blood circulation, increased metabolic activity, muscle relaxation, pain relief and better elasticity of the connective tissue. It is used in classical western medicine as well as in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and naturopathy.
Reasons for heat therapy
The heat therapy is very versatile. In classical western medicine, it primarily serves to relieve pain. Heat therapy is often used for orthopedic complaints.
Thus muscle spannings (for example at the back) are a frequent reason for a heat therapy. Also joint complaints, which have no inflammatory cause, are treated with heat therapy. Likewise, heat therapy can be used to treat overuse damage to the musculature such as muscle strain.
Heat therapy also has a high value in meditation and relaxation. Many massage therapies, especially from the Asian region, are combined with heat therapy. Also a blood circulation problem can be a reason for a heat therapy.
Through the warmth the blood vessels are expanded, this improves the blood circulation of the tissue behind it. Additionally, a heat therapy can have similar therapeutic effects in the body as a fever. By the increased temperature body-alien materials are restrained like for example pathogens in their function. Thus the heat therapy can strengthen also the body-own defense forces.
How does a heat therapy work?
In heat therapy, there is usually a carrier medium which is heated, stores this heat and passes it on to the body during treatment. Such a heat source is usually used locally to relieve pain or tension. Heat-storing substances such as hot stones can be used as carrier medium.
The heat is often used in hydrotherapy. Here, warm water is used, which can be put on a towel like a hot roll. But also a warm foot or arm bath is a form of heat therapy.
By means of infrared radiation or hot air, the heat can be transferred to the body even without a real carrier medium. Rather the heat energy is delivered to the body in the form of pleasant radiation. Usually the heat therapy is connected with relaxing procedures as for example the Massage.
This strengthens the effect of the local heat therapy, at the same time it releases also a mental relaxation, whereby the heat therapy can unfold its effect in the entire body. A fango pack consists of the fango heated to about 50°C. This is valuable volcanic earth, which, mixed with liquid, acquires a somewhat muddy consistency.
This warm mud pack is then distributed over the affected areas of the body. Afterwards, the body parts are wrapped with a foil, for example. In this way, the fango remains directly on the skin, the heat can work longer and thus penetrate deeper layers of the body.
The volcanic earth often contains additional healing substances. Not only can deeper-seated problems be treated by the heat, but superficial skin diseases such as eczema or psoriasis also improve under the mud pack. During the therapy with hot air, heated air is brought to the body.
In contrast to many other heat therapies, hot air is a contactless therapy. Through the permanent contact with the hot air, the heat not only reaches the superficial skin layers, but can also penetrate into deeper tissue and relax muscles and tendons. Hot air therapy is usually a very mild heat therapy method.
A treatment usually takes about 30 minutes. The hot roll usually consists of several towels that are rolled up tightly. They are then immersed half, two thirds or as a whole in hot water.
This hot roll is rolled out by the therapist onto the body parts to be treated. Usually a slight pressure is applied. Thus, the treatment with the hot roll consists of a mixture of pressure and heat.
This combination leads to a local improvement of the blood circulation. This increases the metabolic activity of the muscles, resulting in improved muscle relaxation.In physical terms, infrared is a form of radiation that has a slightly longer wavelength than the light visible to us humans. This infrared radiation gives off its energy to the body in the form of heat.
It is often used in the form of an infrared sauna. This warms up the entire body. But infrared can also be used locally, usually using special lamps.
These are switched on somewhat over the part of the body concerned, so that for example with back pain the entire back with careful warmth is irradiated. Also with babies infrared lamps can be used. One hangs it gladly over the diaper changing table, so that the small ones feel well when changing diapers and are not exposed to the cold.
Most people know ultrasound devices as devices for diagnostics. In heat therapy with ultrasound, slightly longer wavelengths (smaller frequencies) are used. These penetrate the tissue and release their energy in the form of heat. In this way, even deeper tissue layers can be warmed. As with all heat applications, this leads to an increase in blood circulation and thus an improvement in metabolism.
