April 26th, 2022 by Sarah Miles

If you are experiencing joint pain, menstrual cramps, muscular pain, or backache, and really like the idea of relieving that discomfort without the use of medication, then thermotherapy might be just what you need.

What is thermotherapy?

The term thermotherapy (also known as heat therapy) sounds very grand but it’s actually quite simple; it’s all about applying heat to the body for therapeutic purposes. While the act of doing this is simple, there is real science behind it that explains why it can be so effective.

Improves circulation: warm blood moves faster around the body so it improves circulation which carries more oxygen to joints and muscles. This reduces inflammation and aids healing.

Reduces pain: heat receptors in our bodies block the chemical signals of pain to the brain, producing a natural analgesic effect and raising our pain threshold. 

Improves mobility: due to the pain relief and the reduction in inflammation, it increases flexibility and allows you to move around more freely.

How can you apply heat to reduce pain?

There are many ways to apply heat; you have probably done many of them already without necessarily being aware of the term thermotherapy, as something as simple as rubbing a sore knee is a form of this treatment. You can experience the benefits of heat therapy through the following methods:

• Hot water bottle – press a hot water bottle to a bad back or to menstrual cramps
• Heat gel – rub onto injured muscles or joints
• Hot bath – a hot bath can soothe all manner of aches and pains but take care if you have significant pain or reduced mobility, as getting in and out of the bath can be difficult
• Go to bed – obviously getting into bed can allow you to achieve a more comfortable position and you can increase the heat by using an electric blanket, which will give you a very even heat
• Massage – a massage will both loosen tight muscles through manual manipulation and by applying heat but if you do have pain, you should always see a professional masseuse and inform them of your pain first, otherwise you could worsen the condition
• Heat pads – heat pads can be very useful as they give you the same consistent, controllable heat as an electric blanket, but can be applied directly to the area of pain and allow you to continue with many day to day activities, such as working at a desk or watching TV. Heat pads are soft, fleecy fabric pads that are heated via electric wires running through them (just like electric blankets). You can buy flat pads (that can be applied to different areas) or ones that are for specific parts of the body such as the neck and shoulder, back or stomach, or feet. Their greatest advantage over many of these other methods is that they don’t go cold, and you can control the heat very precisely. Those that fit different areas of the body will stay in place and target heat exactly to where it’s needed.

Which is the best method for you?

This very much depends on the nature of your pain, including where it is and how often you experience it. If it’s just occasional then some of the simple measures like a bath or hot water bottle may be sufficient. However, if you regularly suffer from a bad back, severe period pains, or have chronic conditions such as arthritis or rheumatism, something very targeted like the heat pads may be very beneficial.