Hot & cold therapy
The use of cold or heat therapy has long been known in the medical field. Various forms of thermal therapy have been used in the past to provide either heating or cooling to specific parts of a patient's body. For example, heat has been used in the past to increase blood flow and speed the healing process to an injured area. Heat therapy may be used to warm or limber muscles by increasing blood flow. For example, athletes may apply heat to thighs or calf muscles prior to an athletic event. Similarly, cooling has been used to prevent and reduce swelling and pain. Cold therapy may be used to treat certain limb injuries, such as sprained or strained arm or leg muscles, or injuries to joints. Generally, cold may be applied to these types of injuries to slow blood flow, which reduces swelling, pain, and further damage. The treatment of injuries or sore muscles using a hot pack is generally referred to as "warm therapy" or "heat therapy", and the treatment using a cold pack is generally referred to as "cold therapy". Ice bags enable the user to apply cold to an injury such as a bruise or sprain without unacceptable mess. On the other hand, applying a heating element at the appropriate time can also improve the healing process. Heat therapy increases skin temperature, causing blood vessels to dilate and increases blood flow to the area. The increased blood flow and nutrients help to nourish injured tissues. Heat also can relieve muscle spasms and pain triggered by loss of blood flow to the area, and increases the elasticity of the connective tissue of collagen, helping to decrease joint stiffness. Cold therapy is an established practice used in the medical profession to treat certain limb injuries, such as sprained or strained arm or leg muscles, or injuries to joints. Generally, these types of injuries should be chilled to slow blood flow, which reduces swelling, pain, and further damage. A typical course of cold therapy treatment is to apply ice for a specified period to the injured region of the limb. Alternatively, a pack or bag containing a chemical agent that reacts to produce cold may be applied to the injured region. Cold and hot packs may be of several general types. One type of cold pack contains an insulating material which, upon cooling in a refrigerator or freezer, gradually warm back to ambient temperature. Similarly, one type of hot pack contains an insulating material and can be warmed. Another type of thermal pack operates via a change of phase of the components of the pack.
Hot & cold therapy categories
Cold pack
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