INFRARED THERAPY (HOT APPLICATION) – Nurse Info INFRARED THERAPY (HOT APPLICATION) – Purpose, Preliminary Assessment, Preparation of Patient and Environment, Equipment, Procedure and After Care

INFRARED THERAPY (HOT APPLICATION) – Purpose, Preliminary Assessment, Preparation of Patient and Environment, Equipment, Procedure and After Care

UPDATED 2024

Infrared
radiation is long visible rays of spectrum used therapeutically for production
of heat in tissues

PURPOSE

• To promote comfort
• To soften connective tissues
• To promote healing of bed sores
• To improve circulation
• To relieve spasm and pain
• To promote suppuration
• To relieve congestion in internal
  organs

General Instructions

• The patient and the therapist must wear
  protective goggles during the procedure
• Instruct the patient not to touch the
  lamp, nor to move close to it during procedure
• Advice the patient not to touch lamp
• Warn the patient that lamp would
  become hot after few minutes
• Advisable for nurse to stand or stay
  with patient throughout treatment
• Patient and nurse to avoid facing lamp
• Keep the patient’s skin clean and dry
  before using infrared lamp
• It helps in the pigmentation of skin,
  production of vitamin D and bactericidal activity
• The duration of treatment is usually
  20 minutes

Preliminary Assessment

• Doctors order for any specific
  instruction
• General condition and diagnosis of
  the patient
• Self-care ability to follow
  instructions
• Type and duration of the treat
• Articles available in the unit

Preparation of the Patient and Environment

• Explain the procedure to the patient
• Provide privacy if needed
• Arrange the patient according to the
  treatment
• Expose only the needed part

Equipment

• Infrared lamp
• Inch tape
• Top sheet
• Goggles

Procedure

• Wash hands
• Expose area to which heat is to be
  applied
• Drape patient appropriately to avoid
  exposures
• Put on goggles to protect patient’s
  eyes
• Place lamp at a distance 45 cm to 55
  cm (18 inches)
• After 5 minutes commencement of
  treatment

After Care

• Check the condition of patient’s skin
  for burns, redness and the discomfort
• Position the patient comfortably on
  the bed
• Replace the articles
• Wash hands
• Record the procedure in nurse’s
  record sheet