The Problem
Chronic pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide and affects more than 100 million adults in the United States. With an estimated annual cost of $635 billion, it represents a huge economic burden to our healthcare system.[1]
The Solution
Many studies have demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of deep tissue heating for pain relief. [2] Hyperthermia has been evaluated for a multitude of painful conditions including arthritis, back pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, rehab, sports injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, and many more. [3-5] The Thermofield device promises to benefit patients in a variety of ways by providing low-cost, noninvasive treatments that are virtually side-effect free. For example, the technology could potentially ease the opioid crisis by eliminating or reducing a patient’s dependence on these highly addictive and dangerous drugs.
How Deep Tissue Heating Relieves Pain
When local muscle tissue exceeds 42°C (108°F), the body naturally counters with a surge of blood to prevent the muscle from overheating. Increased blood flow boosts nutrients and oxygen to the treated area and accelerates the removal of necrotic debris and excess fluids. Deep heating increases the elasticity and the volume of collagen in connective tissues; Increased temperature improves “gate control” by activating sensory neurons that do not relay pain and blocking nerves that carry pain signals to the brain. [1]
In addition, deep tissue heating delivers the following benefits to patients:
Increasing local tissue temperature accelerates the healing process by dilating blood vessels and increasing the oxygen and nutrient supply to the tissue
Heat activates the immune system to accelerate healing
Heat stimulates fibroblast proliferation
Heat accelerates endothelial cell proliferation
Heat improves the phagocytic activity of inflammatory cells
Heat is believed to have a relaxing effect on muscle tone by reducing muscle spindle and gamma efferent firing rates; there is also the theory that muscle relaxation diminishes the sensation of pain in the affected area
Deep Heat Therapy vs. Arthritis
Nearly 28 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis (OA). One of the many benefits of deep tissue heating for arthritis patients is the expression of Hsp70 in articular chondrocytes. Cartilage metabolism is accelerated in chondrocyte-like cells in-vitro by gene transduction of Hsp70. Hsp70 is thought to have a protective effect on the cartilage and inhibits apoptosis of chondrocytes. Induction of Hsp70 may be beneficial for slowing the progress of OA and mitigating the pain associated with it. [5]
In addition, deep tissue heating delivers the following benefits to patients:
Heat can significantly reduce both synovial sac thickness and knee pain[6]
May slow the progression of OA [5]
Increasing local tissue temperature accelerates the healing process by dilating blood vessels and increasing the oxygen and nutrient supply in the tissue [1]
Heat stimulates fibroblast proliferation [7]
Heat accelerates endothelial cell proliferation [8]
Heat improves the phagocytic activity of inflammatory cells [9]
Heat is believed to have a relaxing effect on muscle tone by reducing muscle spindle and gamma efferent firing rates; there is also the theory that relaxation of the muscle is assumed to occur with the disappearance of pain [1]