Heat Therapy For Chronic And Acute Injuries

Hotties thermal heat packs are a very safe, easy-to-use form of heat therapy.

Used appropriately, Hotties help ease the pain of chronic and acute injuries by:

• easing muscular pain
• reducing stiffness
• helping prevent muscle spasm
• increasing blood flow, which promotes healing

It’s important to use heat and cold therapies at the right time when dealing with any kind of injury. It’s also important to seek the advice of a medical professional.

When To Use Heat Therapy

Chronic injuries

Health professionals recommend heat therapy at all times for chronic injuries. Heat therapy is most beneficial when used for longer periods.

• persist for a long period of time
• usually caused by overuse, e.g. RSI

Minor stiffness or tension can often be relieved with 15 to 20 minutes of heat therapy.

Moderate to severe pain will benefit from longer sessions, 30 minutes to two hours.

Acute injuries

• usually associated with a sudden, traumatic event, e.g. falling from your bike or clashing with another persoring sport
• usually severe, but of short duration
• give rise to pain, tenderness, redness, swelling and inflammation or skin that is warm to touch
• may involve broken bones or muscle / ligament tears. For this reason it’s very important to seek medical as if you have suffered a traumatic injury

Health professionals recommend cold therapy with ice as the best immediate treatment

Heat therapy is recommended for later stages of acute injuries, after swelling is under control.

Health professionals recommend applying heat for 15-20 minutes at a time.

Important:

• Heat therapy isn’t suitable immediately after an injury is sustained as it will increase bleeding at the site. It’s best to wait 48 hours when swelling has gone down.
• Heat treatment should be warm not hot.