Infrared Heat Therapy and Pain Management
Infrared (IR) therapy is a process that involves the conversion of conductive to radiant heat, producing a more therapeutic profile for the body especially with regard to pain management. These radiant energy waves travel deeply into the body (muscles, nerves, bones) to reach the source of pain. IR heat expands the blood vessels, a process known as vasodilation, which improves circulation bringing nutrient dense blood to damaged tissue while simultaneously eliminating inflammatory agents such as lactic acid from the site of pain. This process stimulates mitochondrial activity in the cell which increases its energy potential to heal and repair itself. IR is also known to trigger a release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, which aid in blocking pain signals from the brain. Also, this more penetrative form of heat assists in relaxing muscle tissue which can improve flexibility and ease stiffness allowing the body to move more freely.
IR therapy is considered a non-invasive and safer alternative to more conventional pain treatments such as long-term analgesic medications which can have deleterious effects on the body. It can also be used to treat both acute and chronic pain alike and its effects reach far beyond the original source of pain due to vasodilation, facilitating the flow of oxygen-rich throughout the body. A systematic review of IR therapy and pain management studies published in 2022 found that IR significantly improved patient outcomes across a variety of pain-related complaints such as osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia as well as athletic related injuries. The types of IR therapeutic devices used here at Elementum Medicine are TDP heat lamps which hover over the body during treatment as well as an infrared mat which covers the bottom of the treatment space creating a 360 degree envelopment of comfortable, pain relieving therapy. If you’d like to learn more about the specific devices used check out the link below.