Hydrocollators - Hydrocollator Moist Heat Packs & Pads

A hydrocollator is a device commonly found in physical therapy clinics. They are liquid heating devices used to store and heat hydrocollator packs and hydrocollator pads. Most units are stainless steel and offer the advantage of storing heated hot packs to treat injuries, soreness, and tight muscles on demand.

You will often find them in use alongside other types of hot and cold therapy like fluidotherapy equipment, infrared units, paraffin, chilling units, and hot and cold packs.

Hydrocollators don’t require a lot of accessories for use. You’ll need to start by shopping for hydrocollator units and carts. Choose a cart that fits your hydrocollator so that you can move it from room to room with ease.

Next, shop for hydrocollator packs. You will need a variety of sizes on-hand to treat different parts of the body. Other useful accessories include drying racks to dry packs and pads, a thermometer, tongs to handle packs, and hydrocollator pack covers for the packs.

Hydrocollators are frequently seen in sports medicine, physical therapy, and other practices that treat athletic injuries as well as many other common injuries. They are useful to treat conditions like sprains and strains, muscle injuries, joint injuries, stiff or sore joints, and stiff or sore muscles.

Hydrocollator packs are filled with one of a few different heat-retaining materials or substances. They can contain thermal beads, gel, silica, or even mediums like rice or corn. Regardless of the pack’s consistency, they are all made to absorb and hold heat when placed in a hydrocollator. Once sufficiently warm, hydrocollator packs can be placed on various areas of the body to speed healing or relieve pain and stiffness.

Hydrocollators are designed to produce a constant temperature between 160 and 165 degrees. This is warm enough to ensure that dangerous bacteria and microorganisms are eliminated and safe for use on patients.

If you notice that your hydrocollator has a bad smell, it is a good indication that it isn’t hot enough to kill bacteria. It may need service, or you may need to replace the thermostat or heating element.

Heat therapy with hydrocollator packs can be applied for up to 20 minutes or until the pack starts to cool. When using these packs, check on the patient after five to ten minutes to make sure they are comfortable with the level of warmth. Be sure to put the pack in a terry cloth cover, and to place between six and eight layers of towels between the pack and the patient’s skin.

If you don’t plan to use a hydrocollator for an extended period, you should remove the water, sanitize the unit inside and out, and leave it open to dry thoroughly.

Hydrocollator packs should be stored inside the unit while it is full and heating. Some packs are filled with clay or other materials that, when dried out, become ineffective and need to be thrown away. If you don’t plan to run the hydrocollator to keep them bacteria-free, then simply make sure they are saturated, place them in a plastic bag, and freeze them until you are ready to use them again.

Cleaning the interior of a hydrocollator unit is a simple maintenance task that should be completed regularly. Use a low-abrasive bathroom cleaning product avoiding products that contain chlorine to clean the inside of the unit. Once you’ve thoroughly cleaned it, rinse away the remaining residue. Use water and vinegar to disinfect and wipe up stubborn deposits.

Keeping hydrocollator packs sanitary means keeping them at the proper temperature to kill bacteria and microorganisms. Either store them in a working hydrocollator or keep them frozen to keep them sanitary.