Hot Water Bottle for Injury

When a person sustains an injury, it is likely that he will receive a wide variety of suggestions for self-medication. Quite common is the suggestion that heat be applied to the affected area. Heated ointments, heating pads and self-heating sports wraps are sometimes used for this purpose. Before any of these items emerged, however, there was the tried and true method of using a hot water bottle. While not as common as it was once upon a time, there are some people who are still inclined to use hot water bottles for injuries.

History

• For centuries, people have used various containers filled with hot water to keep their beds warm through the night. Over time, construction and use of these containers was revamped into what is recognized as the hot water bottle today. Nowadays, a hot water bottle is typically made of rubber or a similar material, in a design that was patented by an inventor named Slavoljub Eduard Penkala. As techology gave people newer and better ways to keep their homes warm, the hot water bottle fell out of favor for purposes of bed warming. However, their use did not vanish completely, as people discovered the benefits of using them on localized parts of the body for purposes of muscle relaxation and pain relief.

Significance

• The application of heat to a sprained or injured part of the body has a variety of therapeutic benefits. As heat penetrates into the body, overall circulation improves in the affected area. Blood flow increases to the surface, and muscles relax, which helps to minimize spasms, according to OSU Medical Center. Inflammation in the joints can be eased using a hot water bottle, resulting in less stiffness. Most important, the application of heat to an injured area can decrease sensitivity to pain. While the effects are temporary, the relief can be a beneficial step toward successful recovery.

Expert Insight

• In 2006, Dr. Brian King of the University College London Department of Physiology released his findings on a scientific study on the effects of heat when used for pain relief. In his study, he used recombinant DNA technology to study both heat and pain receptors at a molecular level. What he discovered was that heat, applied to the skin of the affected area, activates the body's heat receptors. Once activated, these receptors work to block chemical messages that trigger the body's pain receptors.

  The effect is short lived--no more than an hour. However, his findings verify that treating injured areas with heat, such as with a hot water bottle, can minimize pain at a molecular level with the same benefits as pharmaceutical pain killers.

Benefits

• The inclusion of heat therapy to a medicinal pain relief regimen can work to provide better pain relief. Heat and medicine working together can nullify pain receptors and provide longer lasting comfort. Moreover, a hot water bottle can be used continually on the affected area, so there can be topical relief during the time frame between medicinal doses of pain killers. This can be a plus to those who do not want to rely strictly on pharmaceuticals to feel better.

Warning

• Before using a hot water bottle for injuries, it is important to make sure it is in proper working order. Broken caps, dysfunctional seals and tears can cause the hot water to leak. Depending on the temperature of the water, serious burns can occur. Because pressure can increase heat levels, it should not be exerted on the device once placed on the body. This is another way that burns can occur. While the water that goes into the bottle should be significantly heated to ensure effective pain relief, it should never be boiling.

  Hot water bottles should not be used to treat pain in areas that are bleeding or are being treated with radiation therapy, according to OSU Medical Center.