UNDERSTANDING THE BENEFITS OF HOT & COLD THERAPY
Pain and discomfort make life difficult, and probably there is nobody who hasn’t experienced it ever. Managing the same becomes difficult, especially for those who don’t know viable treatment options available. In this article, we intend to discuss a potent treatment for joint and muscular injuries. We are talking about the hot cold therapy, which provides fast and effective relief from pain and swelling caused by sprains, arthritis, muscle spasms and more. Here are some of the benefits of hot and cold therapy:
Reduces Inflammation and Pain
Heat treatment has established itself as a holy grail for the treatment of sports-related musculoskeletal injuries. Depending on the severity of the injury, superficial or deep heat therapy can be used. Examples of superficial heat therapies include hot packs, infrared heat, hydrotherapy and paraffin wax baths. Ultrasound, microwave diathermy and shortwave are the types of deep heat therapies and they all end up improving blood flow and circulation to the injured area. Cold therapy, on the other hand, helps reducing blood flow to a particular area, which, in turn, reduces inflammation and swelling, especially around a joint or tendon.
Aids lymphatic Cleansing
Our lymphatic system is comprised of lymph vessels, nodes and organs like spleen, thymus, tonsils and adenoids. We have lymph nodes in our armpits, neck and groin, as well as around the lungs and heart. The main function of the lymph tissues is to make our white blood cells recognize and destroy bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. The lymphatic system, which is responsible for several functions in our body, is affected greatly by hot and cold shower therapy. If lack of exercise, or other factors, has lead to stagnation of fluid in the lymph vessels, then hot cold therapy can be used to get rid of the problem. Lymph vessels contract when exposed to cold water, whereas hot water relaxes the vessels.
Improves levels of Endurance and Recovery
Whenever hot cold therapy wraps are applied on to a body part, the blood flow either speeds up or slows down. Heat wraps help increase blood flow to the injured or sprained region and thus, reduce pain and tension in muscle groups. If you use heat wraps regularly before and after a workout or game, it is a popular form of injury prevention and rehab. It will help you stay fresh during the activity and recover for the next physical activity well on time. Using cold wraps slow down blood flow and reduce the threat of injuries like inflammation, cramps and spasms.
Aids in Weight Loss
Using hot cold therapy wraps can also help you to lose those extra pounds. With deep heat therapy, the intermolecular temperature of fat cells is increased. As a result, the binding between tissues and muscles of the fat area breaks down and loosening of fat cells takes place. This procedure works wonders for enhancing one’s slimming process. On the contrary, ice or cold therapy helps make sagging and loose fat slim and firm. The process detoxifies the body, tightens the tissues, improves cellulite and makes on lose weight.
Improves Sleep and Reduces Stress
Hot and cold therapy is effective in reducing stress and enhancing sleep quality. A cold shower can shock the nervous system and activate the brain’s part that releases happy hormones. Likewise, heat therapy or a hot shower before sleep can have a pleasant and relaxing effect on the body, leading to good night sleep.
Conclusion:
Hot and cold therapy has therapeutic benefits. However, people must first educate themselves on the proper use of both for deriving the utmost benefits of the same.
Article Resource:-https://axizz.com/understanding-the-benefits-of-hot-cold-therapy/
