Improve Circulation for Better Therapy Results
Poor circulation hinders physical therapy results
For someone struggling to regain lost function, build strength and/or improve mobility, it’s a vicious cycle. You need physical or occupational therapy to recover lost function, strength and/or mobility, but your pain, swelling and restricted range of motion limit the effectiveness of physical and occupational therapy. The therapist may work primarily to improve circulation in order to reduce pain, reduce swelling and increase range of motion so that only a little of the therapy time can be spent on recovering lost function, strength and/or mobility. So, how can you improve circulation for better therapy results?
Ways to improve circulation
Have you ever noticed that when you take a hot bath your skin reddens? Blood vessels dilate and blood rushes to the surface of your skin. People use hot tubs and saunas to force heat deeper into their bodies but the surface of the skin receives most of the effects of the heat. Therefore, hot tubs and saunas may briefly improve circulation, but not to the degree needed for most patients who need physical or occupational therapy to regain lost function, build strength and/or improve mobility.
Massage is another method people use to improve circulation for better therapy results. However, fragile or damaged tissues may prevent a massage therapist from working in areas that need improved circulation and massage itself can cause bruising and swelling of sensitive tissues.
A more promising option is light therapy. HealthLight is a light therapy device that combines both red and infrared lights. It has been approved by the FDA as a device to improve circulation around the site where the lights are positioned.
Improve circulation with light therapy
Research investigations have found that red and infrared light therapy causes the body to release nitric oxide into the blood stream. Nitric oxide causes the smooth muscle tissue surrounding blood vessels to relax, decreasing blood pressure and improving circulation to the muscles. This results in more oxygen being delivered to the muscles.
Athletes know that delivering more oxygen to the muscles may improve their performance in their chosen sport. Nitric oxide nutritional supplements can be purchased from many health food stores and on the nutritional supplement aisle at major retailers. However, research conducted in 2004 found that nitric oxide supplements may not be as effective as nitric oxide produced within the body.
Only a few devices deliver a combination of red and infrared light. HealthLight, manufactured by Bioremedi Corporation, is a major manufacturer of this combination light therapy. The HealthLight therapy devices are designed for delivery of maximum strength light across the most clinically important spectrum of wavelengths and in the shortest amount of time. Many clinics that use HealthLight equipment have found that pre-dosing patients before therapy sessions with red and infrared light will effectively reduce pain, reduce swelling and increase range of motion, allowing more therapy time to be devoted to helping the patient regain lost function, build strength and/or improve mobility.
Whether you want to improve circulation for better therapy results, reduce pain, reduce swelling and/or increase range of motion, locate a facility or clinic near you that uses a HealthLight system.
Or, click here to get contact information for HealthLight and find out how to purchase a HealthLight therapy system to use at home.