Moist Heating Pad - About Moist Heat Therapy
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A lot of people rely on over-the-counter pain medication at the slightest sign of back pain, stiff neck or headache. Although these pain medications provide relief, it is mostly temporary. If you would like to get rid of the throbbing pain which is deep-seated into the muscles of the affected area – there is an alternative treatment that you can try. It is called moist heat therapy. Before delving deeper into the benefits of moist heat therapy in easing away those dull aches and pains in your muscles, here is a brief overview of what heat therapy is all about.
Basically, heat therapy is the application of heat to reduce the discomfort when there is muscle pain. Here are the advantages of heat therapy:
• Reduces muscle spasms
• Reduces the stiffness in the joints
• Makes the soft tissues more 'limber'
• Helps loosen tight muscles in the back, neck and shoulders
• Dilates the blood vessels in the affected area which results to increased blood flow and healing of the damaged muscle tissues
• Stimulates skin sensation so that the 'pain signals' which are being sent to the brain can be decreased
• Increases the flexibility not just of the soft tissues but also the muscles and the connective tissue
Dry Heat Therapy Versus Moist Heat Therapy
Now that you are aware of the many benefits of heat therapy, the next thing that you need to learn about is the two types of heat therapy.
First, there is dry heat therapy. Sauna and electric heating pads are two of the most convenient ways to apply dry heat therapy for muscle aches. However, the disadvantage of dry heat is that it leaves the skin dehydrated because the dry heat draws the moisture out.
Second, there is moist heat therapy. Moist heating packs, steamed towels, hot baths and heat wraps are the examples of moist heat therapy. So what is the advantage of moist heat over dry heat therapy? Moist heat does not draw out the moisture from the skin like dry heat does. It also penetrates more deeply into the muscles, joint and soft tissues for better pain relief.
As a precaution, moist heat or dry heat should not be applied for the following instances:
- When the muscle is bruised or swollen
- When there is an open wound
- When the patient has dermatitis, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, deep vein thrombosis or sever cognitive impairment
Remember that when the muscles are bruised or swollen, a cold pack should be applied instead of heat.
Moist heat pads can be used to relieve pain in your legs, back, abdomen, neck – and there are also moist heat wraps which can be applied for sinus problems. You can even purchase moist heat wraps or packs which includes an aromatherapy feature to further relax you during the treatment. All in all, moist therapy is one of the best and most effective alternatives to pain medication that you can use. Without any side effects at all, you can ease those muscle aches and pains away with the help of moist heat therapy.
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