21.3 21.3 Administering Administering

Heat/ColdHeat/ColdApplicationsApplications

Cold ApplicationsCold Applications

Cold Applications Cold Applications (Cryotherapy) are (Cryotherapy) are administered to relieve administered to relieve pain, reduce swelling, pain, reduce swelling, reduce body temperature, reduce body temperature, and control bleeding.and control bleeding.

Types of Cold Types of Cold ApplicationsApplications

Moist Cold: More penetrating Moist Cold: More penetrating than dry cold and examples than dry cold and examples include: Cold Compresses, include: Cold Compresses, Packs, and SoaksPacks, and Soaks

Dry Cold: Used Mainly to reduce Dry Cold: Used Mainly to reduce body temperature and examples body temperature and examples include: Ice Bags, Ice Collars, include: Ice Bags, Ice Collars, and Hypothermia Blanketsand Hypothermia Blankets

Cold ApplicationsCold Applications

Cause Vasoconstriction: Causes Cause Vasoconstriction: Causes the blood vessels to shrink and the blood vessels to shrink and decreases the blood flow. decreases the blood flow. Swelling decreases because Swelling decreases because fewer fluids are present.fewer fluids are present.

The cold also causes a numbing The cold also causes a numbing effect, which will decrease local effect, which will decrease local painpain

HEAT ApplicationHEAT Application

(Thermotherapy) is used to (Thermotherapy) is used to relieve pain, increase drainage relieve pain, increase drainage from an infected area, from an infected area, stimulate healing, increase stimulate healing, increase circulation, combat infection, circulation, combat infection, relieve muscle spasms, and relieve muscle spasms, and increase mobility before increase mobility before exercisesexercises

Moist HeatMoist Heat

Effective in relieving pain in Effective in relieving pain in deeper tissues than are dry deeper tissues than are dry heat applicationheat application

Examples are Sitz Bath, Hot Examples are Sitz Bath, Hot Soaks, Compresses, Soaks, Compresses, Hydrocollator Packs, and Hydrocollator Packs, and Paraffin Wax TreatmentsParaffin Wax Treatments

Sitz BathSitz Bath Used to provide moist heat to the Used to provide moist heat to the

perineal area and rectal area. perineal area and rectal area. It is used Post-Partum and after It is used Post-Partum and after

rectal surgery to promote healing rectal surgery to promote healing and provide comfortand provide comfort

Usually a patient sits on a pan of Usually a patient sits on a pan of warm water over a toilet and warm water over a toilet and tubing irrigates the effected areatubing irrigates the effected area

Hydrocollator PacksHydrocollator Packs Gel filled packs which are warmed Gel filled packs which are warmed

up to 150-170 degreesup to 150-170 degrees Maintains heat for 30-40 minutes Maintains heat for 30-40 minutes Can be contoured to fit smoothly Can be contoured to fit smoothly

over the various body partsover the various body parts Must be covered and do not allow Must be covered and do not allow

direct skin contactdirect skin contact Used Prior to ROMUsed Prior to ROM

Paraffin Wax TreatmentsParaffin Wax Treatments Used most often with patients that Used most often with patients that

have Chronic joint disease, such as have Chronic joint disease, such as arthritis, or sometimes prior to ROM arthritis, or sometimes prior to ROM exercisesexercises

Paraffin Wax is mixed with Mineral Paraffin Wax is mixed with Mineral Oil and meltedOil and melted

The body part is dipped in the wax The body part is dipped in the wax four to five times creating a sealing four to five times creating a sealing of heat and left in place for 20-30 of heat and left in place for 20-30 minutesminutes

Dry HeatDry HeatExamples include Warm Examples include Warm Water Bags, Heating Water Bags, Heating Pads, Aquamatic Pads or Pads, Aquamatic Pads or Aquathermia pads, and Aquathermia pads, and Heat LampsHeat Lamps

VasodilationVasodilation

Causes the blood vessels to enlarge and Causes the blood vessels to enlarge and dilate.dilate.

More blood comes to the area, More blood comes to the area, therefore allowing more oxygen and therefore allowing more oxygen and nutrients to enter the area for healing.nutrients to enter the area for healing.

Heat and Vasodilation can ease pain by Heat and Vasodilation can ease pain by allowing the blood to carry away fluids allowing the blood to carry away fluids that cause inflammation and painthat cause inflammation and pain

Precautions with Heat/Cold Precautions with Heat/Cold TherapyTherapy

Check the Patient FrequentlyCheck the Patient Frequently Color of the Skin and any BleedingColor of the Skin and any Bleeding The Young and the OldThe Young and the Old Metal Objects should be removedMetal Objects should be removed Always observe Standard Always observe Standard

Precautions with seeping or Precautions with seeping or oozing woundsoozing wounds