Hydrocollator questions

[insomniac]

1) What IS a hydrocollator and how is it different from a hot towel cabi?

2) Can I buy these hydrocollator hot packs, soak and wring them out, and heat them in a regular hot towel cabi?

 

[rainbow lover]

It's a water bath for gel packs. You can't use hydroc packs other than in an hydrocollator, because if they dry out they'll crack. Hot towel cabi is not wet enough, they need to be completely submerged.

 

[Leigh [ex nihilo]]

A Hydrocollator is basically a Hot Water Heater. It's designed to heat water to a certain therapeutic temperature, and hold hydrocollator packs immersed in that water until they're ready to use. These packs are hard, so you can't wring them out. I'm not sure what they're made of, but they retain moist heat for a long period of time, much longer than a hot towel. 20-30 minutes is a typical treatment. These packs also need to be covered in multiple layers of towels before being laid on the skin -- to prevent burns and absorb the moisture as it releases.

I don't use these myself -- they're too much of a hassle. But I have had them used on me, and let me say they feel awesome! There is no other heat like it. That's why Physical Therapy offices usually use this heat treatment exclusively.

 

[jinmartt]

I'm not sure what they're made of

They are a linen cover that has a clay like substance inside them. The packs invariably leak after so much use and what oozes out looks like brown, wet clay.

they're too much of a hassle.

Once a unit is set up, there really isn't any hassle to them. You leave them on all of the time and simply only have to add water daily. We have an extra-large unit that sits on the floor and holds 8-10 of the over-sized packs. We love that size as it is big enough to cover the entire back. We use them on pretty much all of our clients and they really love them. If you don't need that many packs (we have up to 5 therapists on at a time) you can get a much smaller unit that holds 2 packs and sits on the countertop.

Angie

 

[Clampinon]

I guess part of what scares me off is the extra laundry -- all those towels. Do you have a washer/dryer on-site? One of the MT's in my town has a hydrocollator, but she offers it as an optional add-on. I think she charges $15 for a "hot pack treatment."

Your clients are very lucky, Moogie. :massage:

 

[Pompal 09.]

Do you have a washer/dryer on-site

Yes, we do our own laundry on-site (we help but the receptionist is responsible for making sure it gets done.) We use our old towels that are too shabby for draping but not bad enough to throw out as covers for the hydrocollator packs.

Yes, I think our clients are lucky too.

t023

We don't charge any extra for the hot packs. We figure that they make our work much easier for us by warming up the tissue.

Angie

 

[Alison W]

I have the smaller E-1 from Chattanooga (bought it on Ebay several years ago). I use an insulated terry cloth cover for the pack but first I place a folded hand towel on the client's back. This way the cover never touches the client and all I have to do is wash the towel. Pretty easy. If the client feels too warm with this setup, I add another folded towel underneath the hotpack/cover.

 

[I DJ WEDDINGS]

Hmm.. that's too bad. Since I got this towel cabi I'm already wanting to incorporate more hot & cold therapy into my sessions.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I have the smaller E-1 from Chattanooga (bought it on Ebay several years ago). I use an insulated terry cloth cover for the pack but first I place a folded hand towel on the client's back. This way the cover never touches the client and all I have to do is wash the towel. Pretty easy. If the client feels too warm with this setup, I add another folded towel underneath the hotpack/cover.

Got mine from ebay, too.

I'd say it was a VERY good investment. Clients love it, especially in winter.
It's not too much extra laundry, I fold the hot pac in a large bath towel. A couple times a week, I just do a towels-only load. Not too much of an inconvienience.
I do not charge extra, or see using it as an "add on" to a treatment. If anything, it helps me out, because when the hot pac is placed on the upper back, it's way easier for me to work out stuff in that area. It warms up the area for me, so I can dive right in!

Also, in winter, when you are done using it on the upper back, you can ask if your client wants the pac placed on their feet. Nice little warm up

 

[dan94adibi]

Do you typically place the pacs on the back while doing massage to legs/feet then remove the packs and massage back?

I have thought of getting one of these. Everyone loves heat.

those who got one on ebay, the smaller size.... what did you pay? I would like to try to get a deal. Did it also come with pacs or did you buy them elsewhere?

 

[Judy.May.]

Do you typically place the pacs on the back while doing massage to legs/feet then remove the packs and massage back?

I have thought of getting one of these. Everyone loves heat.

those who got one on ebay, the smaller size.... what did you pay? I would like to try to get a deal. Did it also come with pacs or did you buy them elsewhere?

Yes, I put on upper or lower back while I work on feet & legs, then I move the pac and work on the back.
Also they are good for carpel tunnel pain people- you can get a smaller pac to fit the wrists comforitably.

Ebay- I believe it was $250 including shipping, and that includes 4 pacs.
You can find them through other massage/chiro supply places online for less than $300

This is the protocol I typically use
First turn on hyrocollator 1+ hrs before client comes in
I fold a bath towl so there are 8 layers. I place the hot pac under the top layer, so there are 7 layers of towel underneath. (please also be aware- thinner towels will need more layers)
I place the hot pac on area needed, usually upper back. I ask client if it feels comforitable where it is. I tell them to let me know if it feels like it is slipping, if they want it moved to a different area, or if they dont like it- it can always be moved or removed.
I begin to work on feet or legs, and after about 1 minute, check in with the client, and physically feel their back under the hot pac to see how hot it is getting.
I work one complete leg & foot, then check in again to see how the heat is doing.
I work other leg/foot, then move up to the back. I take the pac off and ask client if they want it moved to their feet. No real need to check to see how the heat is doing on their feet, because it's probably cooled down enough by then (they say they stay hot for 20-30 mins, and it's already been on the back for 20 minutes or so)
When massage is over, remove pac and put back in hydrocollator.

Hope this is helpful! If I missed anything, or if anyone wants to add......

 

[Poetry]

It's not much hassle once you have a little routine down, like moose-goose does. We had hydrocollators in every room where I used to work. The packs feel wonderful and retain heat for a long time. It's something I definitely want to add to my own practice.

 

[Lexicographer]

Do you add anything to the water to keep it cleaner? How often do you empty and clean? Has anyone added alttle essential oil to the towels or packs? Finally, about how long is the life expectancy of a pack? So many questions....

 

[Pompal 09.]

Do you add anything to the water to keep it cleaner?

No, although many manufactuers will recommend using only distilled water.

How often do you empty and clean?

This would depend on varying factors. What size hydrocollator you have, how ofen the packs are used. We have a huge floor unit that literally has to be rolled outside to be drained so we only clean it out every few months.

Has anyone added alttle essential oil to the towels or packs?

I wouldn't do this since you don't change the water that frequently and I'd also be concerned that the oils could cause the packs to break down sooner.

Finally, about how long is the life expectancy of a pack? So many questions....

Again, depends on how frequently they are used and also are you using tap or distilled water. Ours seem to break down quicker around the seams so if they still have plenty of clay in them, I will restich the pack and keep using them. They should last at least 6 months I'd think?

Angie

 

[LolFish!]

Do you add anything to the water to keep it cleaner? How often do you empty and clean? Has anyone added alttle essential oil to the towels or packs? Finally, about how long is the life expectancy of a pack? So many questions....

I have the small unit, and I add a few drops of rosemary EO to the water to inhibit bacterial growth. I also use only deionized reverse-osmosis water (I keep a marine aquarium in the office, and use this for top off.)

The water stays much cleaner if the unit is being fully heated nearly every day. I don't add EOs to the towels. My packs are 2 years old and still going strong.

I try to change the water about every 2-3 weeks, although it doesn't always work out that way.

 

[tamilynn]

Thanks so much for the info. I've used the green packs that have the little cartridge that sets off a chemical reaction to heat the packs. (Know what I'm talkin about?) I have to simmer them after every use to re-liquify them. It's kind of a pain and sometimes they will spontaneously charge. ARRRGH. This sounds like a much better option.

 

[Lis]

Hmm.. that's too bad. Since I got this towel cabi I'm already wanting to incorporate more hot & cold therapy into my sessions.

I use hot therapy in nearly all my sessions by heating up gel packs in my hot towel cabi. I get the gel packs from Massage W, also have a moist towel in the cabi, as the steam makes it get a little hotter. It does take about 90 minutes or so to heat up from being dead cold, if I'm not in the office that early, I will preheat the hotpacks in the microwave.

Noel

 

[Karlie]

Has anyone here tried those hydrocollator STEAM packs? found them on massage warehouse, and it says they are heated via microwave, which sounds great, just wondering how well they work in comparison to the immersion model.