|  | Conditions Treatments | Muscle Strain

Sports Medicine Heat Therapy

Heat therapy in sports medicine is used to reduce muscle spasms, decrease stiffness in the joints and make soft tissue even softer to reduce associated pain. Heat is generally used as a tool to loosen up muscles before a workout or to help repair them after one. Heat therapy can take place in either a professional physical therapy setting or in the comfort of your own home. While learning how to apply heat therapy may seem like a difficult process, it is actually quite simple if you follow the proper guidelines and instructions.

  1. How to Use

    • Heat therapy requires the use of heating pads, warm towels or heating creams to warm the muscles either before or after a strenuous workout. Simply place the warm object or cream over the affected area and let it sit there for 10 to 15 minutes. If you are using a warm towel, chances are it will lose its heat within five to 10 minutes. If this occurs, simply place it back into the microwave and warm it until it is satisfactory. When applying heating cream, make sure to apply only a thin coat over the affected area. Too much cream can cause severe pain and may adversely effect the therapy process. To use a heating pad, simply plug it into a wall and charge it prior to use. Each type of heating pad will require different lengths of time to charge, so it is best to just charge it after every use.

    When to Use

    • Heat therapy should be used anytime you are trying to make a muscle or muscle group more limber. Heat therapy is used primarily to treat muscles in two key areas: the legs (both the quadriceps and the calves) and the shoulder. For the legs, heat therapy is usually used directly after running for a long period of time and stressing the muscles past their normal boundaries. For the shoulders, heat therapy is usually used after throwing a ball (primary in either football or baseball) to calm the muscles and allow them to heal quicker. Heat therapy can be used on other muscle groups as well, however this should only be done under the supervision of a physical therapist or licensed medical professional.

    Possible Harmful Effects

    • Heat therapy should never be used on an injury within the first one to three days after the injury occurs. If heat therapy is applied to an area where there is any type of swelling, the heat will cause an increase in blood flow to the affected area and will worsen the swelling. Heat pads that are left in the same place for longer than 10 to 15 minutes can burn the skin and cause severe or permanent damage. When warming a towel, be sure that the temperature is not too hot before applying it to the ailing muscle. You can test it by placing your hand directly over the towel and feeling to see if the towel is emitting heat. If you feel an intense burst of steam hitting your hand, allow the towel to cool a bit before applying it to your bare skin.

Muscle Strain - Related Articles