Heat treatments are applied to body areas that are injured or functioning in an abnormal way.

The general purposes of a heat treatment are to improve the flexibility of soft tissues, remove toxic substances, enhance blood flow, increase function of tissue cells, encourage muscle relaxation, and help relieve pain. There are two types of heat treatments: superficial and deep. Superficial treatments apply heat to the outside of the body. Deep heat treatments direct it toward specific inner tissues through ultrasound or electric current. Heat treatments are beneficial prior to exercise, providing a warm-up effect.

Hot packs are a very common form of heat treatment. Moist heat packs are readily available in most hospitals, physical therapy centers, and athletic training rooms. Treatment temperature should not exceed 131°F (55°C). The pack is used over multiple layers of toweling to achieve a comfortable warming effect for approximately...