What is the Difference Between Hydrocollators and Thermalators? By A Nutt At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

When a person is injured due to exercise, sports, or other activity, the use of heat or cold is a common treatment employed in their physical therapy sessions. The use of heat is a non-evasive and helpful means of treatment. The use of heat therapy promotes an increased blood flow to the injured tissue. The flow of blood delivers oxygen and nutrients to the injured area while decreasing muscle spasms, alleviating pain, and relaxing the muscle tissues. Heat is available in many forms such as hot and moist compresses, dry or moist heating pads, hydrotherapy, and silicate gel packs. Two popular methods used in heat treatment for injured muscle and tissue are Hydrocollators and Thermalators.

Hydrocollators

In physical therapy, a hydrocollator is a liquid heating apparatus that is used to heat and store ‘hot packs.’ The hot packs are used to treat physical conditions such as muscle spasms, sprains, and bruised tissue. They are often used to prepare an injured area for a deep tissue massage. A pack is heated to about 65°C and then placed on the injured area. The increased blood flow helps to minimize pain and stimulate healing. The hydrocollator pack is a small pack filled with a silica gel. The pack is soaked in hot water in the hydrocollator device in order to provide extended moist heat to the tissue. The silicate gel absorbs the water and retains the heat. They are usually applied over wrapped layers of towels for a specified period of time, which is usually about 20 minutes. Decreasing the thickness of the towel reduces the heat flow and produces an intentional decrease in the temperature. The maximum temperature is obtained after about 8 minutes, followed by a reduction in temperature. Repeated application of hot packs may extend the period of temperature elevation, but does not alter the distribution of the heat.

Thermalators

Thermalators are hot therapy devices that are used to maintain a continuous heat temperature. The purpose is to provide comfortable and effective physical therapy. Proper heating of the packs allows for an extended period of application on the injury. Thermalators are used in physical therapy clinics and rehabilitation facilities. They maintain a constant water temperature which reduces the need for manually controlling the temperature of the water. Thermalators are also used to maintain massage lotions at a constant warm temperature. Professional equipment such as the thermalators ensures heat treatment items do not cool down in the middle of treatment. Water is thermostatically controlled and the device contains a snap-off thermal protector to prevent overheating.

Injury to the muscle tissues due to exercise and sports activities are a common every day occurrence. Advancements in technology have made healing quicker, more relaxing, and less painful. Heat is used in physical therapy and rehabilitation to help promote tissue healing, reduce pain, and increase a range of motion. The proper temperature is crucial to providing effective therapy. Thermalators and Hydrocollators ensure that a patient maintains comfort while undergoing treatment for their injury.

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