Warmth and heat have long been
associated with comfort and relaxation, heat therapy goes a step further
and can provide both pain relief and healing benefits for many types of
lower back pain.
In addition, heat therapy for lower back pain - in the form of
heating pads, heat wraps, . - is both
inexpensive and easy to do.
We examine how heat therapy interacts
with the body to alleviate pain as well as options on how to apply heat
therapy to help alleviate many types of lower back pain.
How Heat Therapy Works
Many episodes of lower back muscle strain
result from strains and over-exertions, creating tension in the muscles
and soft tissues around the lower spine. As a result, this restricts
proper circulation and sends pain signals to the brain.
Muscle spasm in the lower back can create sensations that may range
from mild discomfort to excruciating lower back pain.
Heat therapy can
help relieve pain from the muscle spasm and related tightness in the
lower back.
Heat therapy application can help provide lower back pain relief through several means:
- Heat therapy dilates the blood vessels of the muscles surrounding
the lumbar spine. This process increases the flow of oxygen and
nutrients to the muscles, helping to heal the damaged tissue.
- Heat stimulates the sensory receptors in the skin, which means that
applying heat to the lower back will decrease transmissions of pain
signals to the brain and partially relieve the discomfort.
- Heat application facilitates stretching the soft tissues around the
spine, including muscles, connective tissue, and adhesion's.
Consequently, with heat therapy, there will be a decrease in stiffness
as well as injury, with an increase in flexibility and overall feeling
of comfort. Flexibility is very important for a healthy back.
There are several other significant benefits of heat therapy that
make it so appealing. Compared to most therapies, heat therapy is quite
inexpensive (and in many circumstances it’s free - such as taking a hot
bath). Heat therapy is also easy to do - it can be done at home while
relaxing, and
Warm Buddy heat wraps also make it an option while at work
or in the car.
For many people, heat therapy works best when combined with other
treatments, such as physical therapy and core exercise. Relative to
most medical treatments available, heat therapy is appealing to many
people because it is a non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical form of lower
back pain relief.