thermotherapy
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Introduction
The use of heat to treat a disease or disorder.
Application of heat may be used to:
- promote circulation in peripheral vascular disease or to relax tense muscles - the enhance local metabolism may offer pain relief
- apply a sufficient amount of heat to induce necrosis of a precisely defined area of tissue
Indications
(applications of thermotherapy)
- joint stiffness or muscle stiffness
- to improve range of motion
- subacute or chronic phases of inflammatory disorders
- microwave thermotherapy for benign prostatic hypertrophy
- breast cancer, destrution of cells in the surgical margins
- choroidal neovascularization
Complications
- worsening of acute inflammation
- thermal injury
More general terms
More specific terms
References
- ↑ The Therapeutic Application of Heat - Thermotherapy http://www.uni-patch.com/PDF/Thermotherapy.pdf
- ↑ eMedicine - Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy of the Prostate http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3070.htm
- ↑ FDA Public Health Notification: Serious Injuries from Microwave Thermotherapy for Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy Oct 11, 2000 http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/bph.pdf