Thermal treatment (heat treatment) is used in specialized physiotherapeutic and balneotherapeutic treatment in many diseases, including cardiovascular system, diseases of the musculoskeletal system or rheumatic diseases.

Heat treatment( thermotherapy ) consists in exposing the affected areas to high temperature. Heat is supplied to the body with thermal energy through warm baths, compresses, massages or air at increased temperature. Heat treatment is used in diseases related to the circulatory, respiratory, urinary, digestive systems, skeletal and smooth muscles, muscle spasms, rheumatic and skin diseases.

Thermal medicine: types of treatments

  • sauna

overheating the body using dry hot air with periodic impact of high humidity and the subsequent stage of cooling the body (cold bath, shower or pouring)

  • paraffin

paraffin is an unsaturated hydrocarbon obtained in the process of distillation of crude oil, when using paraffin compresses, the heat penetrates deep into the tissues, significantly increasing their temperature, the paraffin compress improves blood circulation, warms and relaxes the muscles and soothes aching joints

  • peloid

healing peat belongs to peloids - it is a natural raw material created as a result of plant decay, it has a bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, soothing effect, slimming and detoxifying the skin

  • fango

mineral sludge of volcanic origin, has an effect similar to peat - it is used for compresses or baths, it is recommended for people with rheumatological diseases - has a warming effect

  • infrared radiation

infrared radiation is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength ranging from 0.74 to 2.5 micrometers, it is used to reduce pain, improve local blood circulation, heal wounds faster, and even treat some inflammations that occur both locally and generally

  • ultrasound therapy

used for pain, wtreatment of traumatic conditions, muscle spasms and skin diseases; ptrsonics stimulate various beneficial processes, improve microcirculation, increase oxygenation of cells, relieve pain, accelerate wound healing and cleanse the skin of unnecessary organic products

  • high-frequency electric field therapy

gives the effect of deep overheating, accelerates metabolism, dilates vessels, increases the flow of body fluids, reduces pain and relaxes tense muscles

Indications for thermal treatments

  • osteoarthritis
  • rheumatism
  • urolithiasis
  • bladder problems
  • metabolic disorders
  • circulatory disorders
  • frequent abdominal pain
  • frequent headaches
  • neuralgia
  • chronic sinusitis
  • pharyngitis and laryngitis
  • acute and chronic bronchial diseases
  • otitis media
  • Raynaud's disease
  • spastic paresis
  • muscle contractures
  • sciatica
  • conditions after injuries and contusions of soft tissues
  • arthritis of the spine
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • skin diseases (boils, acne)
  • gastritis
  • colon spasms
  • chronic cholecystitis and biliary tract inflammation
  • rehabilitation after an injury
  • painful spasms of joints and muscles
Important

Thermal medicine: complications, side effects

  • increasing the permeability of blood vessel walls
  • swelling and bleeding
  • disturbance in the work of the heart
  • activate hidden infections
Worth knowing

Some rehabilitation centers offer a sand bath. The patient, sitting in a special bathtub, warms up in dry sand with a temperature of 40-45 ° C. Massage with the use of a device called Aerodyn helps in pain in the arms or legs. Sand or crushed corn grains poured into it are put into motion after being heated. The patient puts the diseased limb into the device and the swirling particles massage the joints.

Heat treatment: contraindications

  • circulatory failure
  • arrhythmia and heart disease
  • varicose veins
  • hemophilia
  • tuberculosis
  • fresh bone fractures and joint injuries
  • degenerative changes in joints
  • changes deforming joints with bone decalcification
  • frostbite
  • leg ulcers
  • bleeding tendency
  • arterial and venousperipheral circulatory disorders
  • blood clots and conditions after thrombophlebitis
  • atherosclerosis
  • surface sensation disorders
  • cardiovascular syndrome
  • diabetes
  • mental illness
  • stomach ulcer
  • atherosclerotic hardening of the arteries
  • epilepsy
  • active peptic ulcer disease
  • fotodermatozy
  • hypertension
  • acute inflammation
  • cancer
  • wasting of the body in the elderly
  • pregnancy

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