Heat Therapy: How Warmth Helps Your Body

When working with heat therapy, the application of controlled warmth to relieve pain, increase blood flow, and promote tissue flexibility. Also known as thermal therapy, it targets inflammation, the body’s immune response that often causes swelling, heat, and discomfort and helps manage muscle soreness, the achy feeling after activity or injury that limits movement. By raising tissue temperature, heat therapy dilates blood vessels, delivering oxygen and nutrients while flushing out metabolic waste. This physiological shift speeds up the repair process and reduces the sensation of pain without chemicals.

Heat therapy works hand‑in‑hand with physiotherapy, a structured program of exercises, manual techniques, and modalities aimed at restoring function. In a physiotherapy session, a therapist may apply moist heat packs before stretching to improve muscle elasticity, then follow with targeted exercises. The warmth prepares fibers so they glide more easily, decreasing the risk of strain. For conditions like tendonitis, inflammation of a tendon caused by overuse or injury and plantar fasciitis, heat applied after the acute phase can relieve stiffness and support gradual loading. Compared with cold therapy, which shuts down blood flow to curb swelling, heat encourages circulation once swelling subsides, creating a natural contrast that many clinicians recommend for chronic pain cycles.

Practical use of heat therapy is simple: choose a method (dry heating pad, moist towel, warm bath, or infrared lamp), set the temperature to a comfortable level—usually 38‑45 °C—and apply it for 15‑20 minutes a session, up to three times daily. Always protect the skin with a cloth barrier and avoid heat on open wounds or areas with poor sensation. If you have diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or are pregnant, check with a health professional first. By integrating heat therapy into daily routines, you can cut down reliance on oral painkillers, improve joint range of motion, and support a smoother recovery from injuries like muscle strains or heel pain. Below you’ll find a curated set of articles that dive deeper into specific conditions, compare heat with other treatments, and give step‑by‑step guides for safe, effective use.