How to Contrast Bath Therapy for Hand & Foot Swelling

• Contrast bath therapy is a form of hydrotherapy that involves alternating hot and cold water treatments.
• It is commonly used to treat pain, inflammation, and swelling.
• The therapy works by increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation.
• It can also help to improve circulation and promote healing.
• Contrast bath therapy is generally safe and can be done at home with minimal equipment.

Contrast bath therapy is very helpful in relieving hand and foot swelling. It involves dipping the treating body part into cold and hot water alternately, but we must know the proper method for doing it. The proportion of time we need to dip in different temperatures affects the procedure’s outcome. We have already discussed how hot packs and cold therapy (cryotherapy) treat painful conditions.

But there are some conditions where only the application of a warm or cold pack will not work; we need a contrast bath. In this article, we will discuss how a combination of both hot and cold packs is effective in treating different conditions. We will also learn the proper process of application of a contrast bath.

Contrast bath therapy for feet and hand| Alternating heat and ice

Ice bath therapy is commonly used to treat acute injuries and prevent swelling and inflammation immediately after the injury. However, applying hot and cold temperatures in an alternating manner can have a very different effect on our bodies. This process is known as ‘contrast bath’ or ‘hot & cold bath’.

Contrast baths involve immersing the affected body part alternately in hot and cold water for a specified temperature, time, and duration to therapeutically decrease oedema, stiffness, and pain¹. To achieve the desired effect, it is essential to follow the proper hot and cold bath protocol.

For instance, if the goal is to reduce swelling/oedema, a particular protocol needs to be followed, and if the aim is to reduce pain, then it will have a different protocol. So, what is the method of applying hot and cold baths?

Instructions for contrast bath therapy application with contrast therapy timing

As the name “contrast bath” suggests, we need water with two different temperatures.
Contrast bath temperatures: Hot water 104 degrees F (40 degrees C) and another one with cold water of 45 to 70 degrees F (7-21C).
Contrast bath times: The most commonly suggested ratio of contrast therapy timing of hot to cold water is either 4:1 or 3:1. That means dip your hand in hot water for 3- 4 minutes, then in cold water for 1 minute².

Step#1

Take two containers and fill one container with hot water at 104 degrees F (40 degrees C) and another one with cold water at 45 to 70 degrees F (7-21C).

Step#2

Start immersing the treatment body part in hot water and keep it for 3- 4 min.

Step#3

Then transfer to cold water and keep it for 1 min. Continue this process till the water comes to normal temperature.

Step#4

End with cold water if you need to reduce swelling. End with warm water when treating arthritis pain.

Supply:

• Hot water 104 degrees F (40 degrees C)
• Cold water of 45 to 70 degrees F (7-21C)

Tools:

• Bowel for water

How contrast bath therapy works

When we immerse a part of our body in hot water, it causes vasodilation. Vasodilation is the expansion of blood vessels and increases blood flow. On the other hand, a cold bath causes vasoconstriction, which is the constriction of blood vessels, resulting in decreased blood flow.

This means that a hot bath increases blood flow to the exposed body part while a cold bath decreases it. When we expose our body parts to alternate warm and cold temperatures, it causes alternate vasodilation and vasoconstriction. This produces vascular exercise which is highly beneficial in reducing oedema or swelling.

Benefits of ice and heat therapy alternating

Its main indication is

1. Oedematous swelling, like swelling after 4-5 days of the injury.
2. Post-operative (after surgery) swelling.
3. Swelling and pain after the removal of plaster cast in fracture case. Like hand swelling after Colle’s fracture.

Final word

Alternate hot-cold baths are commonly used in practice, particularly in the home. It’s a very good home remedy for oedema/swelling reduction in both the hands and foot. Still, I would suggest consulting your physiotherapist for more details on it before applying it.

Keep reading: Cryotherapy (cold therapy) benefits and risks

Sunit. S. Ekka

Dr Sunit Sanjay Ekka is a physiotherapist in practice for the last 15 years. He has done his BPT from one of the premium Central Government physiotherapy colleges, ie, SVNIRTAR. The patient is his best teacher and whatever he gets to learn he loves to share it on his Youtube channel and blog.