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Contrast Bath Therapy Procedure Guide

Contrast bath therapy involves alternating immersion of an affected body area between warm and cold water baths. [1] The procedure involves immersing the area in warm water for 3-4 minutes followed by 1 minute of cold water, repeating this sequence 5-6 times for a total treatment time of 25-30 minutes and ending with warm water. [2] Potential advantages include a more vigorous circulatory effect than heat or cold alone while helping provide pain control without aggravating edema. [3]

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3K views7 pages

Contrast Bath Therapy Procedure Guide

Contrast bath therapy involves alternating immersion of an affected body area between warm and cold water baths. [1] The procedure involves immersing the area in warm water for 3-4 minutes followed by 1 minute of cold water, repeating this sequence 5-6 times for a total treatment time of 25-30 minutes and ending with warm water. [2] Potential advantages include a more vigorous circulatory effect than heat or cold alone while helping provide pain control without aggravating edema. [3]

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AZOZ 19
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Contrast Bath Therapy

Ra’aed F. Khaleel AL- Obaidi


M.Sc. Physiotherapy ,B. M. Tech.
Equipment Required

• Two water containers


• Thermometer
• Towels
Procedure

1)Fill two adjacent containers with water. The containers may be


whirlpools, buckets, or tubs. Fill one container with warm or
hot water, at 38° C to 44° C (100° F to 111° F), and the other
with cold or cool water, at 10° C to 18° C (50° F to 64° F).
When contrast baths are used for the control of pain or

edema, it is recommended that the temperature difference

between the warm and cold water be large; when contrast

baths are used for desensitization, it is recommended that

the temperature difference between the two baths be small

initially and then gradually increased for later treatments as

the patient’s sensitivity decreases.


2)First, immerse the area to be treated in warm water for 3 to 4

minutes; then immerse the area in cold water for 1 minute.

3)Repeat this sequence 5 or 6 times to provide a total treatment

time of 25 to 30 minutes, and end with immersion in warm

water.

4)When the treatment is completed, dry the area quickly and

thoroughly.
Advantages
• May promote a more vigorous circulatory effect than heat or cold alone

• Provides good contact with contoured distal extremities compared with other

thermal agents

• May help to provide pain control without aggravating edema

• Allows movement in water for increased circulatory effects

Disadvantages
• Limb is in a dependent position, which may aggravate edema.

• Some patients do not tolerate cold immersion.

• Evidence from research evaluating the effects of contrast baths is lacking.


References

1. Clayton's Electrotherapy (Physiotherapy Essentials) Paperback – Import, 24 Nov


1995 by Sheila Kitchen MSc PhD DipTP MCSP Professor (Author), Sarah Bazin
MCSP (Author)
2. Physical Agents : Theory and Practice,3rd Edition ,Barbara J. Behrens PTA, MS
,Holly Beinert PT, MPT
3. Physical Agents in Rehabilitation: From Research to Practice ,Fourth Edition, by
Michelle H. Cameron, MD, PT, OCS
4. Therapeutic Modalities For Sports Medicine and Athletic Training, Sixth Edition by
William E. Prentice , Ph.D., A.T.C., P.T.
5. Textbook of Electrotherapy Kindle Edition by Singh Jagmohan (Author)
6. Practical Electrotherapy: A Guide to Safe Application ,by John Fox and Tim
Sharp, 2007

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