Warm treatments
33-38 C
-can be very long with no adverse effects
Hot treatments
39-40 C
-caution bc of the large increase in metabolism they cause
Derivation
- local vasodilation allowing heat to escape
- movement of fluid away from the body core or from an inflamed or congested part toward the skin surface
Passive derivation
- derivation in response to a heat application
- not requiring expenditure of energy
- blood move with hydrostatic pressure (dilating the blood vessels)
Physiological Effects of Heat
- increased metabolism
- increased circulation
- increased inflammation
- increased respiration
- increased perspiration
- Decreased pain
- Decreased muscle spasm
- decrease tissue stiffness
- increase in white blood cell migration
Increase metabolism effect
- chemical reactions occur more rapidly with elevated temperature
- Van’t Hoff’s law: chemical reactions increase 2-3 times for every 10 degress C
- increases oxygen and nutrient uptake in tissues (enhancing tissue health)
Increase circulation effect
- Dilated vessels increase the rate of blood flow
- pulse rises 6-10 beats/min for every core temp increase of 1 degrees
- Net shift of blood into the peripheral tissue helps normalize blood pressure
Increased respiration effects
- Respiration increases as the bodies need for oxygen increases 5 to 6 breaths for every 1° rise in temperature
- Helps to alkalize the blood
Increased perspiration effects
- Release of heat through tubules to prevent internal temperature from increasing too much
- Illumination of waste products
Decreased pain effects
- Heat acts as a temporary analgesic
- Theory heat blocks nerve impulses
Decreased muscle spasm effects
- Pain can rise the level of tone in a muscle enough to cause spasm
- Heat raises a persons pain threshold, alter nerve conductivity, decreased firing rates of muscle spindles
Decreased tissue stiffness effects
- Loosen fascial ground substance making it more pliable
- Soften and stretch scars, improve their alignment, reduce tendency to adhere to tissues around them
Increase in white blood cell migration effects
Improves the acidic bloods ability to cleanse
Reflects effects of heat
- Slow digestive processes
- Relieving respiratory congestion
- Relaxes pelvic organs
- Benefits kidney function
- Relax is bile ducks
- Contralateral effect
Slowing digestive processes effects
- Heat to alderman reduces blood flow to the intestines
- Effective in addressing intestinal cramping and diarrhoea
Relieving respiratory congestion effects
- Long hot treatments on chest can relax this smooth muscles of the bronchioles through derivation
- Ease of breathing
Relax pelvic organs effects
- Extended heat treatments to pelvis can relax the uterus during menstruation
- blood vessels constricted by menstrual cramping will dilate so cramps diminish and flow easier
Benefits kidney function effects
- Prolonged heat to back or lower abdomen
- Faster metabolism and water filtration and kidneys increases urine production
Relaxes bile ducts effects
- Long heat treatment too trunk’
- Relieves gallbladder conditions
Contralateral effect
Prolong heat to one limb induces vasodilation in the contralateral limb
Precautions
- Water intake
- With increase in respiration is important to pause for airbrakes with prolonged treatments
Indications
- injury
- muscle spasm
- DOMS
- Conditions of spasticity
- Chronic tendonitsis or bursitis
- Scar tissue
- Non-inflammatory joint pain
- limited joint mobility
- Osteoarthritis
- labour pain
- anxiety
- insomnia
Contraindications
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Arthrosclerosis
- Heart inefficiency
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Hyper/hypo tension
- Sensory or motor deficiency
- Multiple sclerosis
- Acute inflammation
- High fever
- Burns
- Skin lesions or open sores
- Pitting edema
- Directly over Heart regional
