Infrared heat, which is radiant heat penetrates deeper into the body than a typical hot pack, which relies on conductive heat. It goes through skin and fat and is able to reach deep joints like the hip (if you’re interested, I explain it further in this article).
Infrared heat soothes, increases blood flow to the hip joint (which means more oxygen and nutrients get to the cartilage), and may even stimulate cartilage growth because heat tends to increase metabolic activity in cells.
To use it, point the treatment head about 6 inches from the side of your hip. Typical infrared lamps can be positioned at any angle, so you can do this lying on your side or lying on your back, whichever is more comfortable to you.
After 15 minutes of doing this, lie on your back and place your hip in the “frog leg” position: abducted, flexed and externally rotated. Position the infrared lamp six inches above the crease of your groin. This is an advantageous position because there is less skin and fat for the heat to go through (the hip joint is closer to the surface in this position); it exposes more of the cartilage on the ball of the hip (femoral head), and, there is less muscle in the way so more heat energy makes it to the joint. Do this for another 15 minutes.
After you are done, move your hip joint in circles to stimulate synovial fluid production. Synovial fluid is the “motor oil” of joints, allowing articulating surfaces of the joint to glide with minimal friction.
If your hip joint is achey, apply infrared heat twice a day– once in the morning and once in the evening– for 1-2 weeks; then as needed.
Follow up your infrared treatment with pulsed emf (next).
NEXT: Pulsed EMF
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