Many different modalities used in physical therapy plan of treatment local heat or local cold is on of this modalities, It was used from long years , The therapeutic uses of heat is know as thermotherapy while the therapeutic uses of cold is know as cryotherapy

A- Local Heat

1- Hot Packs

kept at 70-75 C , requires 2 hours for initial heat and 30 min between uses

Advantage : 

easily , inexpensive
short time required
safe , and there is different shapes

2- Paraffin Paths

The temp of Paraffin Paths 45 - 50 C

Advantage :

maintain good contact,
easily , inexpensive
the part can be elevated

3- Fluidotherapy 

the temp is controlled its dry heating agent that transfers heat by convection

Effect and uses of heat
A- Effect

1- Increase blood flow, application of heat causes Vasodilation ( dilation of capillary )
2- Reduction of muscle spasm and relaxation of muscle contraction
3- heat causes increase extensibility of soft tissues ( stretching )

B- Uses

1- Pain control
2- Increase Rang of motion (ROM)
3- Acceleration of healing

1- Avoid use heat in Acute injury or Inflammation or muscle strain

2- Avoid use heat in hemorrhage cases or over an open wounds or burn
3- Avoid use heat in poor sensation cases
4- Avoid use heat in cases of Thrombosis


1- Cold Packs

temp 0-5 C
duration : 10-15 min, can be repeated after 1-2 hours

Advantage

easy, inexpensive
cover large area of body
can be applied with elevated

2- Ice Massage

Advantage

inexpensive
can be observed during treatment
can be use for small or large area of body

Effect and uses of Cold

A- Effect

1- initial decrease of blood flow then increase in blood flow ( Vasoconstrection then Vasodilation )
2- increase pain threshold and decrease sensation of pain
3- decrease spasticity
4- facilitation of muscle contraction

B- Uses

1- inflammation , acute injury control
2- Edema control by decrease intravascular fluid pressure and increase blood viscosity After trauma using ice with compression and elevation
3- Pain control
4- symptom management in multiple sclerosis

Contraindication of use cold
1- cold hypersensitivity
2- cold intolerance
3- over an area with peripheral vascular disease
4- over an area with circulatory compromise
5- over regenerating peripheral nerve