Heat: application of superficial heat source such as a hot pack or heating pad.
Benefits of heat application include: increase local circulation, decrease pain, increase soft tissue
extensibility, decrease muscle spasms, and aid in muscle relaxation.
Indications for heat application include: pain, need for increased local circulation, warm up an area
prior to exercise, muscle spasms, etc.
Your pet will feel:
Mild to moderate warmth.
Cold: application of a cold source such as an ice pack or an ice massage.
Benefits of cold application include: decrease in local circulation, decrease in swelling, decrease in
tissue extensibility, decrease in pain.
Indications for cold application include: pain relief, reduce swelling, reduce inflammation, reduce
muscle spasms, etc.
Your pet will feel:
A gradual cooling of the tissues in the area being treated.
- Patti Triola, PT, CCRT
- Dogs In Motion, In Home Canine Rehabilitation & Wellness
- Phone: 847-949-8455 / Fax: 847-949-8456 / Cell: 224-430-3351 / Email: Dogs In Motion