Why Wetter Is Better

Advise patients to use moist heat to treat spinal or extremity injuries during the first 48 hours. Although dry heat may feel good, it can cause rebound edema. Moist heat penetrates the skin better and helps loosen the fibrosis that occurs after an injury. Moving the injured joints through the full range of motion following the application of moist heat may help reduce such longterm sequelae as chronic fibrosis ("trigger points") and somatic dysfunction (which, if chronic, can lead to spondylosis).
—Gregory Neyman, DC,
  Duane Hinshaw, DO
  Garland, Tex