I assume it increases blood flow, yes. But then, why does that mean the muscles relax? How does it work mechanically?
2006-09-10 17:22:39 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
The muscles don't always relax when heat is applied if they did there would be no need for massage therapy or the entire class of pharmaceuticals such as Cyclobenzaprine, Blacofen, etc. There is NO TRUTH to the statement that it melts any connective tissue what so ever......That Rolfing lady is full of feces.
if you are speaking of a "common" sprain it is not the heat that makes the muscle relax, but improves recovery by it effect of increasing blood flow.
2006-09-11 04:23:01 · answer #1 · answered by Robert b 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It causes the blood vessels to expand, thereby allowing the muscles more "room to move" as it were. Just like cold causes blood vessels to constrict, and try relaxing with ice cubes on you.
2006-09-10 17:26:20 · answer #2 · answered by You'll Never Outfox the Fox 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Heat specifically works by "melting" the fascia, which is covers every fiber of the body.
Fascia is fibrous connective tissue that envelops, separates or binds together muscles, organs, and other soft structures of the body. As it gets warmer it becomes more liquid and flexible.
2006-09-10 17:29:38 · answer #3 · answered by Evenstar 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Heat relaxes my piriformis muscle every time. I could not live without my heating pad. But I do not know how it does it.
2014-05-07 11:10:12 · answer #4 · answered by Mr Craigslist 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe molecules speed up
2006-09-10 17:27:50 · answer #5 · answered by prk 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋