Benefits of Moist Heat Therapy

BENEFITS OF MOIST HEAT THERAPY

The benefits of heat therapy are undeniable and truly impressive. Heat therapy can relieve stiffness and improve circulation by opening blood vessels – relieving pain from arthritis, tennis elbow, sinus headaches, TMJ, aching feet, shoulder and back pain, and many more conditions! But how does moist heat compare to dry heat therapy? T here are many advantages to using moist heat therapy over traditional dry heat:

DEEPER MUSCLE PENETRATION

Because water transfers heat better than air moist heat therapy delivers more heat directly to your skin without losing heat in the transfer process. The result of this greater heat transfer efficiency is that more of the heat makes its way deep into muscles, joints, ligaments and soft tissue. This deep muscle penetration is great for athletes; because blood flow and oxygen levels are increased the healing process is accelerated.

FASTER RELIEF OF PAIN

Moist heat pads are able to relax and penetrate the muscle faster due to the wet heat. As the muscle heats up blood quickly rushes in and starts the healing process. People who use moist heat therapy report that they start feeling more relaxed faster each time they do the therapy and get better faster overall.

DOES NOT DRY OUT SKIN

Dry heat therapy tends to pull moister away from skin causing it to dry out. Think about what happens to your skin when it gets too hot inside your house – your skin gets dry and can crack if you do not apply moisturizing lotion. The same is true of heat therapy. Applying direct heat to your skin will leave your skin drier overtime. Moist heat therapy, on the other hand, doesn’t wick moister away from your body. Leaving your skin warmed without drying it out.

LONGER-TERM PAIN RELIEF

While people using moist heat therapy tend to report that their pain symptoms are relived faster, they also report that on average the pain relief lasts longer- reducing the need to use heat therapy as often. People with chronic conditions like arthritis who use moist heat packs regularly tend to require moist heat therapy less often than when using dry heat therapy.Fewer applications are required due to the increase in blood flow and oxygen levels that allows quicker muscle and tendon healing.