Treatments - Heat packs
- Heat packs are generally used after the first 48 hours proceeding an injury, and are not to be used for acute conditions so as to avoid further inflammation. They are useful, however, to treat both subacute and chronic traumatic and inflammatory conditions. Heat packs are very safe and effective in pain reduction and muscle relaxation.
- Contra-indications for heat packs include:
- Acute inflammatory conditions
- Fever
- Malignancies
- Active bleeding
- Cardiac insufficiency
- Children less than 4 years old or extremely old adults
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Tissues devitalized by x-ray therapy
- Cold packs
- Cold packs are very useful in reducing pain and inflammation in early acute injury. However, cold pack treatments will generally be replaced by heat therapy after the first 48-72 hours following the injury. Cold therapy can also be useful in treating acute or chronic pain due to muscle spasm, and spasticity accompanying central nervous system disorders.
- Contra-indications for cold packs include:
- Patients with angina pectoris or other cardiac dysfunction
- Patients with arterial insufficiency
- Hypersensitivity to cold
- Ultrasound
- At Alpine Physical Therapy we use ultrasound to safely and effectively relieve pain and inflammation, reduce muscle spasms, and accelerate healing. Ultrasound is helpful in patients with soft tissue shortening (joint contractures, scarring) and in painful conditions such as muscle guarding, neuroma, or trigger areas. Ultrasound equipment produces high frequency sound waves (called ultrasound) which are transferred to a specific body part through a probe. These ultrasound waves are then absorbed into the surrounding tissues producing gentle heat. No pain is associated with this non-invasive procedure.
- Contra-indications for Ultrasound include:
- Insufficient arterial circulation
- Cancer
- Ultrasound over the spinal cord after a laminectomy
- Infectious processes
- Acute inflammatory joint pathologies
- Electrical Stimulation
- Electrical Stimulation is a procedure used to strengthen muscle and increase blood flow to promote healing through electrical impulses sent through an individual muscle.
- Contra-indications for Electrical Stimulation include:
- Anything where active motion is contraindicated (e.g.—fusion, unfixated fracture, or recently sutured nerves or tendons)
- Patients with cardiac pacemakers
- Malignancies in the area to be treated
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