PARAFFIN WAX THERAPY

WHAT IS PARAFFIN WAX THERAPY

Paraffin wax therapy is the application of paraffin wax of low melting point (55°C), which is one of the most convenient and reasonably efficient method of applying conducted heat to the extremities for therapeutic purpose.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF WAX

Wax has the following properties:

  • Low thermal conductivity which makes it to be giving heat slowly.
  • Insulating property which make the wax to form thin layer of air next to the skin (i.e no exact contact) which acts as an insulator.
when a part of the body especially extremity is dipped in wax and the wax is allowed to set, the there will be no rapid loss of heat from the treated part. the low thermal conductivity of the wax prevents the patient's feeling as hot as in water of the same temperature.

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF PARAFFIN WAX THERAPY

(1) Heat production: there is obvious increase in skin temperature in the first two minutes of the treatment, up to 12°C to 13°C which helps in vasodilation of superficial blood vessels, hence help in decreasing inflammation

(2) Circulatory effect: stimulation of superficial capillaries and arterioles caused by local hyperemia and reflex vasodilation.

(3) Analgesic effect: the most important effect of wax is its sedative effect on the tissues.

(4) Stretching: this effect is important for stretching adhesions and scars before applying mobilization.

METHODS OF APPLICATION OF PARAFFIN WAX THERAPY

There are four (4) main techniques or methods of applying wax on the extremities during paraffin wax therapy:

(1) Dip method 

(2) Immersion method 

(3) Brush method 

(4) Bandage method

INDICATIONS OF PARAFFIN WAX THERAPY

(1) For reducing of oedema and inflammation

(2) For reducing pain and muscle spasm

(3) For stretching adhesions and scars

CONTRAINDICATIONS OF PARAFFIN WAX THERAPY

(1) Impaired skin sensation

(2) Circulatory dysfunction 

(3) Some dermatological conditions like eczema, dermatitis e.t.c.

(4) After taking analgesic drugs

(5) Infections and open wounds 

(6) Gross oedema

(7) After deep X-ray therapy within three months

(8) Open suture

(9) Over cancer or tuberculosis region 

    ADVANTAGES OF PARAFFIN WAX THERAPY

(1) Relatively inexpensive to replace wax 

(2) Oils used in the wax add moisture to the skin

(3) First dip traps air and moisture to create more even heat distribution

(4) Low specific heat allows for application at high temperature than water without risk of burn

(5) Low thermal conductivity allows for heating of tissues to occur slowly to prevent overheating

(6) Comfortable, moist heat.

DISADVANTAGE OF PARAFFIN WAX THERAPY

(1) Effectively only for distal extremities for ease of application

(2) No method of temperature control once applied

(3) Most effective method of application is the bath method, which limits accessibility for other body parts to be treated effectively

(4) Heating last only about 20 minutes

(5) It is passive treatment, exercise may not be perform simultaneously.


 

Comments

  1. Jaime HoustonMay 3, 2021 at 12:04 AM

    Contrast bath therapy is considered a passive form of therapy. Aside from some gentle motions you might perform, you aren’t actively moving or stretching your muscles as part of this treatment. infrared sauna

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lea WatsonJune 9, 2021 at 7:37 AM

    waxing are a form of exfoliation. The process removes dead skin cells from the surface while smoothing skin. Both waxing and sugaring remove hair from the root, and with continued upkeep the hair will grow back thinner and softer. M & C Relaxation Studio

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

HYDROTHERAPY

Image
WHAT IS HYDROTHERAPY Hydrotherapy is also known as water therapy which in medical term implies using water for therapeutic purpose or simply treatment by water in which water is used as a medium for exercise and provides several opportunities, which are not available in exercise and also hydrotherapy is one of the oldest therapeutic method for the management of body physical dysfunction. Hydrotherapy has been advocated for the treatment of joint stiffness, painful scars, arthritis and adhesions as warm up with exercise. hydrotherapy is used due to the therapeutic properties of water for the effects on body tissues of heating, cooling, debridement, pain relief and relaxation of muscles. when hydrotherapy is not planned well or well performed, it can give side effects, especially on cardio-vascular system, this water therapy is used for the treatment of various diseases, additionally hydrothermal therapy has temperature effects, as in hot baths, saunas, wraps e.t.c. Mostly non-weight bea
Read more

INTRODUCTION TO PHYSIOTHERAPY

Image
  WHAT IS PHYSIOTHERAPY The term Physiotherapy is also known as Physical therapy which is defined as medical profession that deal with study or training on how to be expert or specialized in assessment, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of joint structures and soft tissue injuries, deformities, disabilities and diseases for the purpose of rehabilitation of normal range of motion of the joints and normal physiological function of the soft tissues of the human body by using physical methods like exercise therapy, manual therapy techniques, therapeutic massage techniques and electrotherapy by using electrical therapeutic modalities. A Person who study physiotherapy is called Physiotherapist. METHODS USED IN PHYSIOTHERAPY (1) EXERCISE THERAPY METHODS INCLUDE: Active and passive exercises Breathing exercises Stretching exercises Posture correction exercises Gait and balance training exercises Resisted exercises Assisted exercises Assisted-resisted exercises e.t.c. (2) ELECTROTHERAPY METH
Read more

TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATION (TENS) UNIT THERAPY

Image
WHAT IS TENS  Definition: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit is defined as low frequency analgesic physio-therapeutic modality which is designed based on control theory (i.e Gate theory of pain). WHAT IS TENS THERAPY TENS Therapy is the application of Electrotherapy modality or machine called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit, which is using low frequency current mainly used for management and control of pain, both acute and chronic type. GATE THEORY OF PAIN Gate theory of pain is the theory which was described by Melzack and Wall in 1965, this theory explains about a pain-modulating system in which a neural gate present in spinal cord can open and close. therefore modulating the perception of pain. So this TENS unit modality was designed based on this "Gate theory of pain" for the therapeutic purpose of management and control of pain, both acute and chronic type. PRODUCTION OF TENS To produce the therapeutic effect of gate theory of
Read more