Gaithersburg, MD
301-926-5200
Potomac, MD
301-365-5313
Urbana, MD
301-874-9002
Heat Therapy
The more you understand your body and how it
functions, the better equipped you'll be at taking care
of yourself to achieve optimal health. We've included
the Patient Education section on our website to provide
you with valuable, practical wellness information which
you can incorporate into your lifestyle to improve the
quality of your life. We hope you will turn to these
pages whenever you have a question about health related
issues and urge you to contact our practice at any time
to make an appointment
with one of our doctors.
While ice therapy is used to reduce swelling, heat therapy is used to relax the muscles and increase circulation. Both kinds of therapy help reduce pain.
Heat therapy is often used in patients who have chronic, or long-lasting pain. Heat therapy can involve many kinds of methods, from simple heating pads, wraps, and warm gel packs, to sophisticated techniques, such as therapeutic ultrasound.
Back injuries can create tension and stiffness in the muscles and soft tissues of the lumbar region, or lower back. In many cases, your circulation may be impeded. The tension in the muscles can sometimes escalate to spasms.
Heat therapy:
Heat therapy is not used on swollen or bruised tissues, or in patients who have dermatitis, deep vein thrombosis, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, open wounds, cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension.
Heat therapy is often used in patients who have chronic, or long-lasting pain. Heat therapy can involve many kinds of methods, from simple heating pads, wraps, and warm gel packs, to sophisticated techniques, such as therapeutic ultrasound.
Back injuries can create tension and stiffness in the muscles and soft tissues of the lumbar region, or lower back. In many cases, your circulation may be impeded. The tension in the muscles can sometimes escalate to spasms.
Heat therapy:
- Dilates the blood vessels of the affected muscles, allowing them to relax and begin healing
- Helps lower discomfort by reducing the amount of pain signals going to the brain
- Increases the ability of your muscles to easily flex and stretch, thereby decreasing stiffness
Heat therapy is not used on swollen or bruised tissues, or in patients who have dermatitis, deep vein thrombosis, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, open wounds, cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension.
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