123 North Second Street, About Paraffin Heat …

1 About Paraffin TherapyPage 1 About Paraffin heat TherapyParaffin therapy : The Latest Trend or Something More?If you believe the mass-consumer-marketing gurus, the latest trend in feel-good products is the Paraffin spa. Perhaps they would be surprisedto learn that the use of warm Paraffin began during the First World War asa medical treatment for orthopedic injuries, and was described as early asthe 1930s by James A. Dickson, MD, and Walter J. Zeiter, MD, both of theCleveland fact, warm Paraffin has been used for decades by physicians, physicaland occupational therapists, rehabilitation and pain managementspecialists, and a host of other medical professionals for the heattreatment of arthritis, inflammation, strains, muscle spasms, and more.

2 Inshort, Paraffin is a drug-free, non-invasive method of applying heat torelieve muscle stiffness and joint physiological benefits of heat are numerous. When heat is applied, theblood vessels expand, bringing more circulation to the affected area,increasing healing nutrients and oxygen at the cellular level and removingwaste products that cause inflammation and stiffness. A temporaryincrease in the pain threshold, a decrease in muscle spasms, and anincrease in flexibility occur, significantly benefitting the outcome oftherapeutic range of motion (ROM) exercises. Topical heat also results inan increase in skin pliability.

3 Warm Paraffin may facilitate all of these heat -related benefits and is often prescribed in the post-inflammatory phase ofinjury and for chronic pain conditions such as benefit of warm Paraffin is its effect on skin. While other forms ofheat therapy especially hydrotherapy can dry skin out, Paraffin leavesskin hydrated, soft, and pliable. Paraffin rejuvenates skin in two ways:through increased circulation and topical moisturization. As heat enhancesblood flow to the small capillaries in skin, sweat from eccrine glands (whichopen at skin s surface) and sebum from sebaceous glands (which open intohair follicles at skin s surface) is increased, flushing dirt and grime frompores to give skin a healthy-looking glow.

4 In addition, increased blood flowbrings beneficial nutrients to the skin. Paired with an effective skinmoisturizer, it s no wonder that Paraffin has such a dramatic effect onskin. Those who are concerned About sensitive skin can rest assuredknowing that Therabath PRO brand food-grade Paraffin is a very inert,dermatologically harmless substance that won t clog Uses Paraffin therapy ?Because it is so versatile, Paraffin is used in a variety of settings by arange of healthcare, wellness, and beauty professionals. Paraffin therapy isused by physical, occupational, massage, and athletic therapists; handtherapists; reflexologists; rehabilitation, pain management, and arthritisspecialists; physicians and nurses; chiropractors and podiatrists; and ahost of other medical professionals for the heat treatment of arthritis painand stiffness, inflammation, strains, muscle spasms, and professionals use Paraffin in salons, spas, and resorts formanicures, pedicures, facials, and body treatments.

5 Paraffin is also used inAn Informational Paperby WR Medical Electronics North Second Street, Stillwater, MN 55082 2002 03 by WR MedicalElectronics PRO Paraffin TREATMENTINDICATIONSU seful in symptomatic reliefof pain caused by medicallydiagnosed arthritis, bursitis,and chronic jointinflammation. Relaxesmuscles, relieves stiffnessand muscle spasms, andstimulates circulation. Maybe prescribed for post-fracture or post-dislocationtreatment, for sprains,strains, for restriction ofmotion due to scar tissue,and for other conditions forwhich heat is used prior totherapeutic exercise andmassage. May be prescribedin certain peripheralvascular diseases.

6 Consultyour physician if you haveany Paraffin TherapyPage 2industrial settings where workers endureconstant repetitive motion or intense cold,such as occupations are taxing on hands,requiring frequent hand-washing and heavy usethat severely dries skin or leaves muscles stiffand tired. Because Paraffin reduces joint pain,relieves stiffness, stimulates circulation, andmoisturizes skin, warm Paraffin is an ideal self-care remedy for many of these addition to providing Paraffin treatments intherapy settings, medical professionals canteach their clients and patients to use warmparaffin at home in between therapy course, many consumers use Paraffin assimply a feel-good experience and for use is contraindicated for the followingconditions.

7 Should not be used in the presenceof open cuts or wounds, inflammatory skin conditions, neoplasm (growths),peripheral vascular disease where circulation is impaired, acuteinflammation, or when sensation of the extremity is reduced or absent (suchas in some cases of diabetes). If there is any question About peripheralvascular disease or decreased sensation of the extremities, consult aphysician or physical therapist before using. Should not be used on areassubject to hemorrhaging or in cases involving abnormal sensitivity to use if dermatitis due to Paraffin sensitivity occurs. Discontinueuse if wax feels too hot or cool, which could indicate health problems withthe user.

8 Do not allow children or those with severe physical disabilities touse the Paraffin therapy Effective?Although the fundamental mechanism by which heat reduces pain is not fullyunderstood, heat application appears to affect the peripheral nerve endings,increasing the pain threshold. Anecdotal evidence from hundreds of patientstestifies to the efficacy of warm Paraffin therapy . The effectivenessincreases when used along with a physical therapy program. In a Swedishstudy of 52 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, those who used warmparaffin wax baths along with a hand exercise program had the greatestimprovement in range of motion and grip efficacy of heat is often compared to that of cold.

9 Although they areoften used in different situations (such as cold for acute, heat for chronic),patient comfort can play an important role in determining which is , a person s tolerance for any therapeutic regimen heat or cold has a direct link to the overall result (such as increased flexibility or reducedstiffness and pain). In other words, if they are more likely to use it, they aremore likely to benefit from it. In the use of moist heat versus cold therapyfor chronic conditions, the overwhelming patient preference is for is sometimes compared to other forms of heat therapy . Usingparaffin, clients can tolerate a surprisingly high temperature of around 130 HOW DOES IT WORK?

10 Paraffin wax has a very highheat capacity, meaning it isable to absorb and retain agreat amount of heat . Aparaffin wax bath takesadvantage of Paraffin s heat -retaining capacity in a simpleprocess called heat it melts in the warmer, theparaffin changes phase tobecome liquid and is able toretain heat . Then, when ahand, foot, or other area isdipped into the heated bath,the Paraffin quickly changesinto a solid, transferring theheat to the dipped professionals use paraffintreatments for hands, elbows, feet,and more. Wellness and beautyprofessionals also use Paraffin forskin treatments, reflexology, andtherapeutic Paraffin TherapyPage 3F.