What Are Hydrocollator Packs, And How Do They Benefit Chiropractic Patients?

When it comes to all natural treatment methods, chiropractic adjustments are one of the most common and effective options out there today. As any doctor or patient of chiropractic will tell you, part of the reason why the practice is so successful and effective is due to the fact that it often relies on using supplemental therapies in conjunction with manual manipulation techniques in order to relieve pain and restore mobility to the joints of the body that may have been affected by pain related conditions.

While some of the recommended supplementary methods may make sense and seem obvious to us – regular exercise, ice packs, yoga, meditation, etc. – there are some therapies that are not really well known in the public sphere, yet play an important part in many patient’s healing processes. One of the least well known, yet most effective, supplemental therapy techniques employs the use of hydrocollator packs. I had only recently heard about these, and so I decided to do a little more research on the topic in order to gain a better understanding of this technique. I found an article by Wise Geek that does a great job explaining what this is and why it works so well; I’ll share here what I learned from the post.

You are probably wondering what exactly hydrocollator packs are. With a name like that, they have to be pretty fancy and high tech, right? Actually, they are essentially just therapeutic pads that can be heated or iced in order to treat a wide range of conditions on an exterior level. Most often, these packs provide a unique type of moist heat to a patient, which tends to be more effective for treating pain related conditions than traditional electrical heating pads are. This is because moist heat is able to relax the muscles and nerves without drawing up moisture from the skin, so the affected area remains hydrated, which is important for a quicker healing process. Hydrocollator packs can vary in size, depending on what area of the body they are applied to, as well as what condition they are being used to treat specifically. Furthermore, these pads can be filled with different substances with different effects and benefits. Some hydrocollator packs are filled with gel, beads, or silica, while others are filled with corn or even rice. If you are currently experiencing chronic pain, ask your chiropractor about the use of hydrocollator packs.

Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Fiona Henderson