When tissue is injured, due to overuse or strain, nerve cells send pain messages through the spinal cord to the brain. Other nerves send messages from the brain to tighten the muscles in the injured area. While the muscle tightness acts as a way to protec

When tissue is injured, due to overuse or strain, nerve cells send pain messages through the spinal cord to the brain. Other nerves send messages from the brain to tighten the muscles in the injured area. While the muscle tightness acts as a way to protect an injury from, the spasm also causes more secondary to the inhibition of the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the injured area. Heat therapy can be very beneficial to an injured area as local application results in vasodilatation, which increases the blood flow, brings nutrients, oxygen and white blood cells to the area to clean up the damage and stimulate healing.
Describe in your own words how local application of heat will support the healing process. Give the pathophysiology, indications, contraindications, methods, and nursing care for heat application. Cite any research sources you use to support your answers.
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