Doctor cautions on use of infrared therapy devices
By Jake Chung / Staff writer
While infrared therapy has become a popular treatment for aches and pains, a doctor cautioned that it is not a cure-all and people with certain health conditions are advised to avoid using such devices.
Infrared therapy can generally be subdivided into near and far-infrared therapies, with the former often used in the earlier stage of treatment, said Chen Kuan-cheng (陳冠誠), a doctor at National Taiwan University’s Department of Rehabilitation Medicine.
Near-infrared therapy has greater penetration and can warm up the target area more efficiently, increasing the blood flow and raising the metabolic rate, he said.