Moist heat therapy effects include increasing the extensibility of collagen tissues, decreasing joint stiffness, reducing pain, relieving muscle spasms, and, in addition, aids in the post acute stages of healing by increasing blood flow and circulation. The application of heat is helpful in the chronic phase of an injury to help with residual soreness/stiffness that remains.
Application time of 10-15 minutes if often helpful to prepare you for the adjustment or the soft tissue work that follows.
Heat is contraindicated with open wounds, circulatory problems, infections, heat allergies, malignant cancers, and during the acute inflammation stage.