Heat therapy is often used to prepare the area for exercise or additional treatment. The application of heat directly to the area of pain will help reduce muscle spasm thus relaxing the area and reducing the pain. Within the department we use heat packs which are placed in the microwave and are applied directly to the painful area. These can be purchased from several locations, and the treatment can be continued at home on a regular basis with advice from the Physiotherapist.
Low melting point paraffin wax is also used in the department. The patient dips their hands and wrists into a wax bath until they get a coat of wax which remains on the skin for about 10 minutes. The heat of the wax again helps to reduce muscle spasm and pain. This can also be purchased so that treatment can continue at home on a regular basis.
