Hydrotherapy vs Paraffin Wax Therapy

When it comes to physical therapy, there are many different forms of treatment that all prove beneficial, depending on what the injury or disease is.  When deciding which is best for you, it may come down to just your level of comfort and/or preference.  However, everyone undergoing physical therapy should always first consult with a physican and/or physical therapist who is trained to assess your bodily ailment.

That said, there are two physical therapy treatments that should be considered as alternative to medicine.  First there is hydrotherapy which is designed to relieve pain through the use of water.  Hot or cold can be emphasized, depending on the injury.  Steam baths, saunas, foot baths and basic hot and cold compresses is the practice behind hydrotherapy.  Water as a known liquid, is very useful when applied through a bath or steam, as it is sure to wrap around an entire injured area, reducing pain and swelling.

Then there’s paraffin wax therapy, similiar to the concept behind water, however a dense wax is applied instead known as paraffin wax.  Both techniques go back to centuries ago, yet both are still actively used today as successful alternate routes to western medicine.  Paraffin wax comes naturally from the components of crude oil.  It has been proven safe as a odorless, colorless, tasteless and heavy composition.  The heaviness of the wax increases the blood supply to the injured area while also enclosing on moisture from underlying layers of skin.  Not only does paraffin wax pinpoint a certain injury from its ability to be specifically applied, it leaves the skin nourished and healthy as its molecular structure opens up skin pores.  The result from paraffin therapy is the reduction of pain while also decreasing swelling and cramping of joints.  The wax does this by removing excess fluid from the surrounding tissue while also moisting the area as well.  Paraffin therapy aids in such conditions as, but not limited to arthritis, fibrositis, inflammation, muscle spasms, overworked muscles, scar tissue, muscle stiffness and tendonitis.

Physical therapy supplies are very easy to come by these days.  While a doctor should always be consulted, supplies can be purchased at the comfort of one’s own home. Given the purchase is physical therapy supplies, it makes all the more sense to not have to physically leave to start your therapy.  Taking the treatment to the household is ideal for those who are still in recovery.