Ways You Can Experience Temperature Therapy at Home
Temperature therapy uses heat and cold to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and promote relaxation. It’s an effective, affordable, and accessible body treatment that can enhance your overall well-being. Though you can receive professional treatment, that’s not your only option. Here are three of the most popular ways you can experience temperature therapy at home.
Heating and Cooling Pads
First on this list are heating and cooling pads because you likely already have them in your home. Heating pads can be electric devices or gel packets that can be heated in the microwave. Cooling pads can be freezable gels or simply bags of frozen veggies—whatever you have on hand.
These pads are cheap and reusable, making them great investments for short-term, isolated pain relief, whether for period symptoms, muscle strain, or something else.
Safety Tips
To use heating and cooling pads safely, apply them to the affected area for no more than 20 minutes. Place a cloth barrier between the pad and your skin to reduce sensitivity. Additionally, do not apply the pad to extra sensitive areas of your skin, such as thinned areas or the face.
Hot Tubs and Ice Baths
For a literally immersive experience, try thermal hydrotherapy. This sounds like a fancy term, but all it means is resting in hot or cold water. Though the equipment for this type of therapy is more expensive, it lasts a long time and can be an investment in your health and relaxation.
For hot tubs, the water’s heat relaxes your muscles, promotes circulation, and provides general pain relief. For ice baths, the freezing water slows circulation, reduces inflammation, aids muscle recovery, and boosts immunity.
Safety Tips
For hot tubs, mind the temperature and don’t stay in longer than 45 minutes. If you feel lightheaded or too hot, exit immediately. Additionally, keep the tub clean, as bacterial growth is a real danger in these amenities.
For ice baths, there are many steps to take when trying a cold plunge to acclimate yourself and prevent shock. Fifteen minutes is the absolute max for this treatment, but you should start with a mere 30 seconds and build up from there. Additionally, remember to breathe—the water will shock your system, but taking controlled breaths will relax your mind and help you reap more benefits of the therapy.
Hot-and-Cold Creams
Finally, we have the humble yet effective hot-and-cold cream, a favorite among athletes that can deliver easy, affordable pain management to you as well. These topical applications help stimulate circulation, block pain, and relieve muscle stiffness. When you apply the cream, you’ll notice a soothing warmth followed by a cooling sensation, making it a two-for-one temperature therapy treatment.
Safety Tips
Don’t apply hot-and-cold creams more than four times a day. Additionally, do not apply the creams to sensitive parts of your skin with rashes, cuts, burns, or other irritations. Finally, do not get the product in your eyes; wash your hands after use.
You can get pain relief and other benefits with these three ways you can experience temperature therapy at home. Though generally safe, be sure to consult with your doctor before starting one of these therapies, especially if you have underlying conditions.
