Heat therapy boosts mitochondria and potentially treats chronic illnesses
Mitochondria, the energy powerhouses in our cells, are instrumental for healthy cell function and a decrease in their numbers has also been linked to debilitating chronic conditions type 2 diabetes, heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). While previous research has shown that exercise can increase the number of mitochondria in the cells and improve their function, a new study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology has uncovered the potential for heat therapy to have similar effects.
Bringham Young University, Utah researchers assessed the effects of heat therapy on a group of 20 adult volunteers who had not exercised in three months. For six days, the volunteers were subjected to two hours of shortwave diathermy, a type of heat therapy applied to their thigh muscles. This physiotherapy treatment uses electrical pulses to generate heat in the muscle to which it is applied.
Source: Harvard Health
For each volunteer, the treatment was applied to one thigh which caused the temperature of the muscle to increase to 7 °F (almost 4 °C) and the other thigh which received no treatment was kept as a control. The researchers chose two-hour long sessions for the volunteers as based on previous studies, this was around the minimum amount of time needed for people to experience the mitochondria-boosting effects of exercise that the researchers aimed to mimic.
The researchers measured the number of mitochondria in the muscles on the first day of the experiment and a day after it ended. The results showed that the treated muscles had a 28 percent increase of mitochondrial function on average and that they had an increased number of mitochondria in them. The researchers suggest that these findings indicate that people who are too ill to exercise for two hours a day may also be able to experience the benefits of boosted mitochondrial activity and numbers through heat therapy.
Where can I get heat therapy in Qatar?
Although temperature-based physiotherapy is available in hospitals and medical centers across the country, below is a list of centers where you can specifically access shortwave diathermy treatment:
Al Emadi Physiotherapy Center
D Ring Road, Doha, Qatar
P.O Box 50000 Doha Qatar
Email: info@alemadiphysio.com.qa
Telephone: +974 4411 1411
Abeer Medical Center – Abu Hamour Branch
Mesaimeer Street, Next to Al Jazeera Academy, Opp. Doha Modern Indian School, Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar
P.O Box 32380
Telephone: +974 44445678 – +974 77715678
Email: info.qatar@alabeergroup.com
American Chiropractic Center
Umm Lekhba, Doha Qatar
Telephone: +974 44113346 – +974 44113346 (Via Tabeebak Help)
Email: a.chiropractic@hotmail.com
As always, it is essential to consult your doctor before trying out any new treatments. This professional opinion will help you understand whether these treatments are safe enough for you to try and whether they have the potential to work for you!
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