Thermal Agents

Thermal agents are the application of heating or cooling modalities to treat disease and other traumatic injuries. Its main objective is to produce cellular and vascular changes with variations in heating and cooling. Cryotherapy is the use of cold, while thermotherapy is the use of heat.

To provide an optimal healing environment through the use of thermal agents, one of four modes can be utilized:

• Conduction is when there is heat loss or gain through direct contact, such as an ice pack.
• Convection is heat loss or gain through the movement of water molecules across the skin, such as a whirlpool.
• Conversion is changing from one energy form into another, and will be discussed under ultrasound.
• Evaporation is when thermal energy is removed when there is a change from the liquid state to the gaseous state, such as a vapocoolant spray.