This document discusses hot and cold applications for physical therapy. Hot applications above skin temperature are used to relieve pain and congestion, provide warmth, promote healing, and decrease muscle tone. Cold applications below skin temperature are used to reduce pain, body temperature, anaesthetize areas, control hemorrhaging and bacteria growth, and reduce inflammation. Both are classified as local or general dry heat/cold and moist heat/cold. Each has specific temperature ranges, physiological effects, contraindications, and potential complications.

2. Hot application
Hot application is the
application of a hot agent, warmer
than skin either in a moist or dry
from on the surface of the body

3. Purpose
 To relive pain and congestion,
 To provide warmth,
 To promote healing,
 To decrease muscle tone
 To soften the exudates.

4. COLD APPLICATION
Cold application is the
application of a cold agent cooler
than skin either in a moist or dry
form, on the surface of the skin.

5. Purpose
 To reduce pain and body temperature,
 To anaesthetize an area,
 To control hemorrhage,
 To control the growth of bacteria,
 To prevent gangrene,
 To prevent edema and
 To reduce inflammation.

6. Classification of Hot Application
 Local
 Dry heat ( hot water, chemical, Infrared rays ,
Heating Lamps, Electric Heating Pad)
 Moist Heat ( warm soaks, Hot Fomentation
(compresses), sitz bath)
 General
 Dry heat ( sun bath, Blanket bed)
 Moist Heat ( steam bath)

7. Classification of cold Application
 Local
 Dry cold ( Ice bag, Ice pack, Chemical cold packs)
 Moist cold ( Ice to suck, cold compress, Evaporating
lotion)
 General
 Dry cold ( Hypothermia)
 Moist cold ( cold sponnging, cold bath)

8. Temperature of hot & cold
Application
description Temperature Appilcation
Very Cold Below 15 C Ice bag
Cold 15-18 C Cold Packs
Cool 18-27 C Cold compresses
Tepid 27-37 C Alcohol Sponge bath
Warm 37-40 C Warm bath
Hot 40-46 C Hot Soak, Hot comresses
Very Hot Above 46 C Hot water bag for Adult

9. Physiological effect of Hot & Cold
Application
Hot Application Cold Application
Peripheral vasodilatation Peripheral constriction
Increased capillary Permeability Decreased capillary Permeability
Increased oxygen consumption Decreased oxygen consumption
Decreased muscle tone Decreased muscle tone
Increased blood flow Decreased blood flow
Increased motility of Leukocytes Decreased motility of Leukocytes
Increased local metabolism Decreased local metabolism

10. Contra indication for hot
application
 Malignancies
 Impaired kidney, Heart or Lung Function
 Acute inflamed Areas
 Edema
 Headache

11. Complications of Hot Application
 Pain
 Burn
 Redness of the skin
 Hyperthermia

12. Contraindications of Cold
Applications
 shock and collapse
 Edema.
 Circulatory disorders.
 Decreased sensation
 Patients with shivering and very low temperature,
 Cold should not be applied when there is infected
wound

13. Complication of Cold Application
 Pain
 Blister
 Thrombus formation
 Redness
 Hypothermia