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Contraindications:

the first period of fever, hypothermia, loss of skin

sensitivity, violation of the integrity of the skin, swelling of any nature, collapse,

shock, spastic pain.

Complications:

frostbite (if you do not take a break), hypothermia (if you

keep more than 20 minutes).

Heaters

may be rubber and electric. The most convenient are electric heaters,

because it is possible to regulate the degree of heating and to provide a constant

temperature for any time.

Mechanism of action

: the heater due to dry heat causes reflex relaxation

of smooth muscles, has analgesic and dissolving effect, increases blood filling

of internal organs.

Indications:

local warming of individual areas and the whole body in chills,

in contusion (on 2–3 days after it), in myositis, neuralgia, post-injection seals

(infiltrate), in hypertensive crisis, for resorption of some chronic inflammatory

foci, in the first period of fever. In abdominal pain, the heater can be used strictly

according to the doctor’s prescription (with colic).

Contraindications:

bleeding, acute inflammation in the abdomen (acute

appendicitis, acute cholecystitis), the first day after injury (trauma), damage and

diseases of the skin, infected wounds, malignant tumors, the second period of

fever, the unconscious state of the patient.

Places to use heater are the fields of infiltration, lumbar region, liver region,

the region of the stomach (strictly on prescription).

Complications:

burn the skin – in case of non-compliance with the technique

of the procedure, due to the flow of the heating pad or a small wrap (one layer);

skin pigmentation that occurs with prolonged use of heater.

Compress

– is a therapeutic multi-layer bandage. Compresses are dry and

wet, common and local. Wet compresses can be cold, hot, warming, medicinal.

Cold compress

Mechanism of action:

cold compress causes cooling of the skin and

blood vessels, reduces blood filling, pain, swelling of tissues.

Indications

: it can be used in the first hours after the injury (contusion), in

nasal bleeding, in the second period of fever, etc.

The local hot compress

Mechanism of action:

it dilates blood vessels, has a resorbtive, analgesic

effect, relieves spasm of smooth muscles.