How to Use Hot Packs Hydrocollators Massage Therapy
Hydrocollators are used to warm up heat packs with water. These heated packs are then placed strategically on the body to relax the muscles and provide access to deeper areas of connective tissue. Hydrocollators can be used in standard relaxation massage, or as a tool to access injured areas in medical massage. According to The Mayo Clinic, heat relaxes tightened or injured muscles, and can reduce muscle pain. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Hydrocollator Massage
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Heat the hydrocollator pack. The packs should be heated for about 15 minutes before your massage so they can properly warm up. The packs are heated in the hydrocollator, which is usually made of stainless steel.
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Ready the client. While the packs heat up, get the client set up on the massage table. The hot packs will help you loosen the client's tissue and access the deep muscles of the body, so decide which area of the body you want to use them on.
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Retrieve the hydrocollator heat packs. When the client is ready and the packs are heated up, you can pull them from the hydrocollator. Be sure to use the special tongs provided, as the packs will likely be too hot to handle. Let any excess water drip off before bringing the packs near the client.
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Place the packs. Hydrocollator packs should not be placed directly on the client's skin. Rather, use an extra sheet or towel as a buffer. Place the towel on top of the client, and then place the heat pack on top of the towel. This barrier will prevent water from dripping onto the client, and provides a buffer if the packs are too hot.
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Let the packs warm the client's tissue. You'll need a few minutes for the heat from the packs to warm up the client. This warming period is a good opportunity to massage a different area of the body. If you're using the heat packs on the client's back, then massage his or her legs while the back warms up.
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Communicate with your client. Be sure to ask the client if he or she is comfortable, and ask the client to alert you if the packs are too hot.
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Once you are ready to massage the heated area, remove the packs. Place them back into the hydrocollator if you are going to use them on another client, or place them on a clean surface so they can cool down.
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Perform the massage. With the tissue good and warm, you can dig right into deep muscle. Treat the warm area with massage strokes like friction and compression.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have multiple hydrocollator packs, you can move them around the body during the massage treatment. This way, multiple areas can warm at once, and you can spend less time waiting for the muscles to obtain the proper levels of heat.
Be sure the packs aren't too hot. Test them on your arm before placing them on the client, and check in throughout the treatment to ensure your client's comfort. Remember, packs that are too hot can burn your client.
