What is Heat therapy?
Category: Equipment
Most popular types: Heating pad/Hot Shower on Massage
Heat therapy is most commonly used for rehabilitation purposes. The therapeutic effects of heat include increasing the extensibility of collagen tissues; decreasing joint stiffness; reducing pain; relieving muscle spasms; reducing inflammation, edema, and aids in the post acute phase of healing; and increasing blood flow. The increased blood flow to the affected area provides proteins, nutrients, and oxygen for better healing.
| Purpose | Patients | Evaluations | Perceived Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pain | 44 | 2 | |
| Muscle and joint pain | 42 | 1 | |
| Fibromyalgia | 16 | 1 | |
| Pain in lower back | 7 | 0 | |
| Joint pain | 4 | 0 |
- Major
- Moderate
- Slight
- None
- Can't tell
Side effects
Side effects as an overall problem
| Severity | Evaluations | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Severe | 0 | |
| Moderate | 0 | |
| Mild | 1 | |
| None | 3 |
Commonly reported side effects and conditions associated with Heat therapy
| Side effect | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Muscle tension | 1 | |
| Pain in left side of neck | 1 | |
| Skin discoloration | 1 |
Why patients stopped taking Heat therapy
Multiple reasons could be selected
| Reason | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Course of treatment ended | 1 | |
| Did not seem to work | 1 | |
| Doctor's advice | 1 | |
| Expense | 1 |
Duration
Stopped using Heat therapy
| Duration | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 month | 1 | |
| 10 years or more | 1 |
Last updated: