Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Acute low back pain: Choose ice first, then heat. Soon after a person injures or strains their back, the area becomes inflamed. Placing an ice pack on the area will impede this inflammatory process and numb nerve endings. Ice can also reduce muscle spasms.
How heat and ice therapy work for lower back and sciatica pain relief. Ice therapy reduces swelling and pain while heat therapy reduces muscle spasms and increases the flow of nutrients. This blog provides tailored insights on when ice and heat therapies may be used, and which option works better in different situations.
Heat therapy can help relieve tightness in the lower back by recouping circulation, relaxing tense muscles, and reducing related pain.
Apply Heat. Studies show that it can provide short-term pain relief. A hot shower, bath or heating pad can help relax tense muscles and reduce inflammation. But if you use a heating pad, be...
Heat or ice therapy can be an effective treatment option for back pain. Cold treatment can reduce inflammation of the muscles, while heat treatment can promote the healing and relaxation of...
Heat therapy helps break the pain-spasm-pain cycle, where pain causes your muscles to spasm as a protective response, and those spasms, in turn, cause more pain. 4 Lowe W, Chaitow L. Thermal modalities as treatment aids. In: Orthopedic Massage. Elsevier; 2009:27-42. doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-06812-6.00003-9.
Heating pads may help improve the circulation in your body, which could help relieve your back pain, repair damaged muscles, reduce inflammation, and improve back stiffness.
“Try continuous, low-level heat for chronic back pain,” Dr. Okubadejo says. He suggests wrapping a heated blanket around your lower back. A heating pad is a good treatment option for certain symptoms of back pain, such as the painful muscle spasms that can occur with some back sprains and strains.
However, speak with your doctor about which might be the most effective for your pain. Commonly, heat is recommended to relax tight muscles, but ice may reduce swelling. This article explains cold and heat therapy, how to use both, and possible associated risks.
After the first few days of back pain, heat can help with ongoing pain and stiffness. Studies show that heat can be especially helpful for muscle soreness 1 to 2 days after a vigorous workout. Heat helps pain by increasing blood flow.