Chapter 9

Cold and Heat Therapy

Xiao-wen ZHU

School of Nursing, Jinan University

contents
1 Physiological responses to cold and heat
therapy

2 Factors influencing the effects of cold and

heat therapy

3 Contraindications to cold and heat

applications
objectives
Compare the different physiological
responses between cold and heat therapy

Replied to factors influencing the effects of

cold and heat therapy

List out the contraindications to cold and heat

therapy
1 Physiological Responses
 Cold and Heat Therapy
It is a therapy method that utilizes
substances, the temperature of which are
lower or higher than the skin surface
temperature, acting on the skin to attain
local and systemic treating effects.
Mechanism
Temperature
Skin surface
stimulus

Vasoconstriction
Fluid circulation or vasodilation
and metabolic activity
Cold and heat create a series of physiological
responses,
the responses to cold and heat are opposite.

Opposite
Physiological Heat Cold
responses
Vascular condition Vasodilation Vasoconstriction
Blood flow Increased Reduced
Body temperature Raised Lowered
Blood viscosity Reduced Increased
Connective Increased Decreased
extensibility
Cellular Increased Decreased
metabolism
Capillary Increased Decreased
permeability
Questions
Which of the following diseases can be used of
heat therapy? Which can be used of cold therapy?
Why?

Epistaxis
Poor circulation
Conjunctivitis
Brain injury
secondary effect
When the maximum therapeutic effect of the
cold and heat therapy is achieved, the opposite
effect begins. We call this phenomenon
secondary effect.
2 Influencing Factors
Factors influencing cold and heat therapy

1 Treatment method

2 Body part

3 Duration of application

4 Size of the exposed body surface area

Prior skin temperature

5
6 Age and individual physical condition
3 Contraindications
Contraindications to cold therapy

1 the site of injury is 2 the client has

already edematous. impairment in circulation.

Cold further retards Cold further reduces

circulation to the area and blood supply to the
prevents absorption of the affected area
interstitial fluid
Contraindications to cold therapy

3 chronic infection and deep suppuration

4 contradict parts of the body. Such as pinna,
scrotum, and occipitoposterior are risk of tissue
damage from cold therapy. Precordia, abdominal and
the center of the foot are contradictious places
Contraindictations to heat therapy

1 The early stage of soft tissue sprain , bruise.

2 Acute abdominal pain when not diagnosed.

3 Trigonum infection around nose.

4 Visceral organ bleeding.

5 Tumor.

6 Mental status impairment.

Summary

Bodily responses and

contraindications to cold and
heat therapy
Thank
You!