Hydrotherapy :Therapeutic Cold for massage therapists

Hydrotherapy Therapeutic Cold

General Therapeutic Effects of Cold:

Reduces muscle spasm by breaking the pain-spasm-pain cycle.

Reduces spasticity when muscle temperature is reduced. Used to move muscles so that they can be reprogrammed to increase motor skills as in subacromial bursitis.

Relieves pain through its direct effect on nerve fibers and receptors

Reduces Inflammation in the early phase

Reduces swelling an edema in the acute phase

Secondary effect of cold is heat ad body restores normal temperature

Types of cooling:

Convective: blowing air over skin

Evaporative: removal of heat by using ethyl chloride sprays

Conductive: contact with cooled substances such as ice packs or compresses

Application Times:

Application times must be adjusted to reach the area to be treated. Ligaments need more time because of the depth and type of collagen fibers.

Times must be adjusted according to the size of the injured area, the nervous system sensitivity and the amount of adipose tissue present.

Start with a minimum of about 5 minutes and check to see how cold the area is.

It also depends on what source of cold you use- straight ice in zip-lock or gel packs.

Contraindications:

Previous frostbite or other hypersensitivity to cold such as Raynaud's disease or Lupus

Poor kidney function

Hypothyroidism - causes further reduction in basal metabolic rate

Advanced Cardiovascular disease because of increase in systolic blood pressure

Slows wound healing by slowing cell metabolism

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Hydrotherapy Therapeutic Cold