{"title":"Thermotherapy with superficial heat and infrared","seoTitle":"Thermotherapy with superficial heat and infrared | PES Luxembourg","metaDescription":"Thermotherapy and infrared heat to support mobilisation and therapeutic exercise at Pôle Équilibre & Santé in Bascharage.","content":"**Infrared heat relaxes a contracted muscle, softens a stiff joint and prepares active work. It is not a treatment for acute inflammation. At Pôle Equilibre & Santé, in Bascharage, the lamp is placed at 30–50 cm for 15 to 30 minutes — at the start of the session before movement, sometimes at the end for comfort. Never a stand-alone therapy.**\n\n## Infrared, distance and duration\n\nInfrared light penetrates under the skin, dilates local vessels and increases tissue blood supply. A pack or a hot-water bottle acts mainly at the surface and cools down. The lamp is placed at **30–50 cm**; exposure lasts **15 to 30 minutes**. Comfortable warmth, never a burn. Too close, too long, or skin that no longer feels: the risk exists.\n\nThis is not a solarium. It is dosed heat to make [manual therapy](/bascharage/competence/therapie-manuelle), stretching and exercises more tolerable — or to release after effort.\n\n## Indications — and acute inflammation\n\nUseful: contractures, stiffness, osteoarthritis, chronic low-back pain, preparation of a back or a shoulder, relaxation at the end of the session.\n\nTo avoid: a very recent lesion, a hot swollen knee, damaged skin, a wound, an infection, a sensory disorder, acute inflammation, fever, a recently irradiated area according to medical advice, a severe vascular disorder. In those cases, [compressive cold](/bascharage/equipement/cryotherapie) is often more relevant, or we go straight to movement. Heat on acute inflammation can increase swelling.\n\n## Evidence\n\nNadler et al. (*Spine*, 2002): transient relief of mild to moderate low-back pain with a heat wrap. French et al. (Cochrane, 2006): superficial heat, short-term benefit in low-back pain, limited-quality evidence. Freiwald et al. (*Journal of Pain Research*, 2021): an adjunct for pain and perceived suppleness, not a foundational treatment. Without exercise, heat does not change the course of chronic low-back pain.\n\n## How it goes\n\nThe lamp is framed. If the heat stings or the skin reddens too much, we move it away (towards 50 cm) or we shorten. Then exercises and manual therapy while the tissues are more supple — or, at the end of the session, a time of comfort. The effect often lasts **a few hours**.\n\n## Preparation\n\nUncover the area, remove thick creams, mention a sensory disorder, a skin graft, a recent scar. No metal jewellery under the beam if asked.\n\n## After the session\n\nSlightly pink skin is possible. Heat has not repaired the tissue. Maximal sport on a still-unstable lesion is not indicated.\n\n## Contraindications\n\nAcute inflammation, a wound, an infection, neuropathy with loss of sensation, fever, a severe vascular disorder, a recently irradiated area according to advice.\n\n## Frequently asked questions\n\n\nIs there a burn risk?
\n\nYes if it is poorly dosed: too close, too long, skin that feels poorly. Under supervision, at 30–50 cm, the risk is low. You should feel only pleasant warmth. The assessment rules out at-risk skins.\n\n \n\n\nHow long, and at what distance?
\n\nFifteen to thirty minutes, lamp at 30–50 cm. Extending beyond that does not improve the effect. We stop if the heat becomes stinging.\n\n \n\n\nCan heat worsen inflammation?
\n\nOn an acute lesion, yes, it is contraindicated. The assessment distinguishes a hot phase (cold or relative rest + cautious movement) from a stiff phase (heat then exercise).\n\n \n\n\nCan I do the same at home?
\n\nA domestic heat source can relieve for a moment. Never a burning hot-water bottle on bare skin, never falling asleep with a heating pad. The interest at the practice is the dosing, the contraindications, and above all the sequence with the exercises.\n\n \n\n\nIs heat also used after the session?
\n\nYes. At the end of the session, it favours relaxation. The effect lasts a few hours: that is the moment to walk and do the prescribed exercises. The physiotherapist chooses the moment according to the goal of the day.\n\n \n\n\nIs a prescription required?
\n\nPhysiotherapy is provided on medical prescription so that it can be reimbursed by the [CNS](https://cns.public.lu/fr/assure/remboursements/prestations-remboursees/prestations-paramedicales/kinesitherapeutes.html). The practice handles the paperwork. Details: [The Consultation](/bascharage/kinesitherapie/consultation-kine).\n\n \n\n\nHow can I book an appointment?
\n\nVia [Doctena](https://fr.doctena.lu/cabinet/Pole_Equilibre_Sante-281318) or on +352 26 65 28 42. Practice at 20B Rue du Bois, 4912 Bascharage — see [Contact & access](/contact).\n\n \n\n## Find out more\n\n- [Compressive cryotherapy](/bascharage/equipement/cryotherapie)\n- [Manual therapy](/bascharage/competence/therapie-manuelle)\n- [Our technical platform](/bascharage/equipement)\n\n","image":"https://pes-luxembourg.lu/bascharage/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Thermotherapie-1024x341.png"}