Contrast Therapy-Hot & Cold Stones

Category: Massage Therapy Massage Therapy

Last Updated: 28 August 2021 28 August 2021

• Hot stone
• Cold Stone
• Contrast therapy

Contrast Therapy

Contrast therapy is alternating between hot stones and cold stone usage. It began its origin with contrast bath therapy in a series of brief repeated  immersions in water to decrease pain, swelling and lactic acid buildup following intense exercise.

Ice packs and heating pads are familiar rehabilitation tools, but many people have never heard of therapeutic contrasting: quickly changing tissue temperature from hot to cold and back again which can achieved using hot and cold stones. For injury recovery, contrasting is a good, cheap, safe, and simple idea, and I promise that it feels better than it sounds, when it’s done right. Basically, contrasting constitutes a gentle tissue workout: stimulation without stress, strong sensations without movement, which may be helpful for a body part that badly needs some rest while it heals.

What is contrasting particularly good for? (If anything?)

Experimenting with contrasting should be standard part of rehab from many musculoskeletal injuries, but especially repetitive strain injuries in the extremities. Repetitive strain injuries often need far more rest to recover from than people realize, and any technique for stimulating tissue without stressing it is valuable. Contrasting is also much easier and more practical and effective to apply to the limbs, so the best common candidates for contrasting are:

• Plantar Fascitis
• Shin Splints
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Tennis or Golfer's Elbow

• Achilles tendinitis  

 Why does it work Physiologically?

The effectiveness of heat and cold in therapeutic circumstances can be attributed to two basic physical rules. Heat expands, cold contracts. Physiologically this translates into the use of heat as a vasodilator – bringing nutrient rich blood to surface areas – and the use of cold acting as a vasoconstrictor – driving blood to the body’s core – nourishing and protecting the inner organs of the body. Used alone, heat can help to relax aching muscles, while cold reduces inflammation and inhibits pain. Pain reduction happens, in part, because the body’s pain receptors are particularly sensitive to changes in temperature. Cooler temperatures slow the velocity of nerve transmission, while heat tends to increase the velocity.

Variations in heat and cold also have a physiological effect on the body’s pain gate mechanism. In very simple terms, the brain is momentarily distracted away from sending or receiving pain messages using contrasting temperatures.

 Think of the last time you were tense and stressed out – how your muscles felt, what was going through your mind and how you eventually got relaxed again. Now imagine the same scenario, but instead of letting time take its course and heal your stressed-out body, you go to a spa and get a hot stone massage. Which sounds better? Time may heal all wounds, but when it comes to relieving stress hot stones can get the job done faster and more effectively.

Hot Stone Massage

Hot stone massage is a type of massage that involves the use of smooth, heated stones. These stones are used to warm & relax your muscles. It can be both soothing and therapeutic to comfort sore overused, aching muscles as well very calming to the nervous system.

Cold Stone Massage: Marble stones

Marble stones are considered the best option for cold stone therapy. Marble stones have proven to be the best at retaining coolness. They do not heat up rapidly during a massage and can draw heat from the body.

Read more: Contrast Therapy-Hot & Cold Stones