Heat Therapy for the Whole Leg

Heat therapy is commonly used to not only reduce pain and inflammation, but also make movement easier. With heat therapy, a source of heat is applied to the affected area and typically left for 20 to 30 minutes. Although heat can be applied to many areas of the body, keep certain considerations in mind when preparing for heat therapy. If you are applying heat therapy to the whole leg, choose a method that allows the entire leg to be completely relaxed during the therapy session.

Purpose

• Heat therapy is commonly used to treat chronic injuries, rather than traumatic injuries. A chronic injury is one that has lasted for a long period; it is usually caused by overuse or biomechanical problems, rather than a traumatic event. When used properly, heat therapy can decrease joint stiffness, joint pain and muscle spasms. It also reduces inflammation and swelling, which is a buildup of fluid in the tissues of the leg. When heat therapy is applied to the legs, it functions in two main ways. First, it temporarily increases blood flow to the legs, which soothes the area. Then, it makes the connective tissues in the leg more flexible; this decreases joint stiffness.

Methods

• Heat therapy may be applied to the whole leg in a variety of ways. The most common way to apply it is through heat packs. Some heat packs are made of a thick, durable rubber material and can be filled with hot water. Other heat packs consist of a cotton cloth bag filled with silicate gel; these heat packs can be warmed in a microwave. Hydrotherapy is a convenient way to apply heat therapy to the whole leg. With this method, the leg would be immersed in a whirlpool; the water is then warmed and agitated to not only provide heat, but also a gentle massage to the whole leg. Infrared heat is applied with a specialized infrared heat lamp. The leg would be positioned under the light(s) and the infrared heat would absorb into the leg. Infrared heat is commonly used to treat arthritis, fibromyalgia and muscle spasms.

Considerations

• When applying heat therapy, extra care needs to be taken to avoid burns. For this reason, there are certain times when heat therapy is not suitable for treating pain or stiffness in the whole leg. If the patient has sensory difficulties and cannot adequately judge temperature, heat therapy should not be used. In this case, patients are unable to determine whether the heat is too high for their body or skin. Heat therapy should never be used to treat burns, circulatory problems, malignant tumors or infections. Additionally, heat therapy should never be used on patients who are hypersensitive to heat, as this may result in further complications.