Scottish baths

Scottish baths are an alternation of cold and hot baths generally used on the extremities of the limbs (ease of realization):
– Hot water at 40°C (+/- 2°) depending on tolerance
– Cold water at 16°C (+/- 2°) always according to tolerance
Treatment advised by some in algodystrophy.

Sample Scottish Bathing Protocol

5 minutes in hot water then
1 minute in cold water then
4 minutes in hot water then
1 minute in cold water then
4 minutes in hot water then
1 minute in cold water then
4 minutes in hot water then
5 minutes in cold water to finish.

That is a total protocol duration of 25 minutes.

The Scottish bath is used for the treatment of CRPS, however since 2017 it is no longer recommended (Lille recommendations)

Post operative chronic pain