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Paraffin Wax Therapy

The use of warm paraffin began during the First World War as a medical treatment for orthopedic injuries and was described as early as the 1930s by James A. Dickson, MD, and Walter J. Zeiter, MD, both of the Cleveland Clinic. 

 

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...but how can wax help?

Paraffin wax has a very high heat capacity, meaning it is able to absorb and retain a great amount of heat. A paraffin wax bath takes advantage of paraffin’s heat-retaining capacity in a simple process called heat transfer. As it melts in the warmer, the paraffin changes to become liquid and retains heat.

 Then, when a hand, foot, elbow, or other area is dipped into the heated bath, the paraffin quickly changes into solid form, transferring the heat to the dipped area.

paraffin physical therapy

Benefits of Paraffin Physical Therapy

Paraffin heat can soothe chronic joint pain, loosen joints prior to exercise, assist muscles in recovering after exercise, relax stiff muscles and increase range of motion, all while rejuvenating the skin.

Studies have shown that the paraffin wax bath is commonly used as an effective remedy to improve circulation and promote relaxation. Both hands and feet are most common segments to be treated with paraffin wax bath in physical therapy. Paraffin Wax bath treatment followed by active hand exercise resulted in significant improvements of range of motion.

 
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More about Paraffin Wax Treatment

The warm wax is said to relieve pain caused by a number of conditions, including arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. It is also a commonly-used physical therapy treatment for sports-related injuries. 

The Arthritis Foundation reports that using heat and cold treatments can reduce the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. 

The paraffin physical therapy involves dipping hands into a tub of warm paraffin wax that creates a thick coating on the hands. The warm wax soothes achy joints and opens pores, and when the wax cools after a few minutes and is peeled away, hands feel softer. Paraffin physical therapy helps improve movement in many conditions.

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