Heat for Lower Back Pain
Back pain is a common health problem that can negatively impact the quality of life for many people. Minor back injuries can happen during everyday activities. Things like gardening, athletic activities, or lifting children can cause back pain. Chronic back pain is a long-lasting issue that affects your everyday life. Choosing the right method to relieve back pain is crucial to speeding recovery. Others swear by heating pads and adequate rest. Some suggest alternating between ice and heat therapy. But when should you use ice or heat therapy? Is heat or ice better for back pain? Below we’ll explore the role of heat for back pain and discuss the choice between heat and cold, as well as why heat therapy can help relieve lower back pain.
Can Heat Make Back Pain Worse?
Many people with back pain often worry that heat may aggravate their symptoms. However, proper heat will not cause back pain to worsen. Moderate heat can provide soothing and relaxation, effectively relieving back pain.
Be careful not to use it at too high temperatures or overuse it because excessively high temperatures can irritate the back muscles and increase pain, and prolonged use can lead to dehydration and muscle stiffness.
What is Better for Lower Back Pain Heat or Cold?
Heat and cold compresses each have their applicable situations. When choosing between heat and cold, it’s important to understand the cause of your back pain.
Heat is often used to relieve muscle tension and stiffness. It is a good option for chronic back pain or muscle tension caused by holding the same position for a long time. On the other hand, cold is mainly used for acute injuries or inflammation, and it can reduce inflammatory pain and swelling. If you have pulled a muscle or strained a muscle in your lower back, heat is not recommended. Heating the already inflamed tissue could cause tissue damage and may make the pain worse. In cases like these, ice is a better option for relieving back pain.
Remember, it is best to seek advice from a doctor to determine the treatment method before deciding whether to use a heat or cold application.
Why Does Heat Help Back Pain?
Heat application can help back pain mainly because it can promote blood circulation and relax muscles, thereby relieving pain and accelerating the healing process of back pain. Applying a heat pack to a sore spot can bring immediate comfort. Upon heating a painful spot, your skin’s sensory receptors get activated, sending signals to the brain. These signals hinder pain transmission, thus providing relief.
Improve Circulation: Heat can dilate blood vessels, increase blood flow, help carry away metabolic waste, and provide more oxygen and nutrients to muscles and tissues, helping to speed up the recovery process.
Muscle Relaxation:Heat compression can relax tense muscles and reduce muscle and joint stiffness.
Pain Relief: It can also stimulate nerve endings and reduce the transmission of pain signals, thereby relieving low back pain symptoms.
Increases tissue Elasticity: Gentle heat elevates muscle and joint temperature, reducing muscle tension and relaxing knots.
Many patients suffering from chronic back pain opt for heated back supports to aid recovery. An excellent heated back support brace not only provides solid back support but also alleviates discomfort through its heating function. It can also serve as a source of warmth during winter. If you're planning to purchase a heated lower back brace, here's a breakdown of some common types of heated back brace to help you get a better idea:
Back Heating Pad: This type of back brace uses a removable heating pad as the heat source, and usually comes with other replaceable pads. Like the Fivali Heat Lumbar Brace FBR05, it comes with two pads, a magnetic pad that provides heat and a fleece pad that provides warmth.
Rechargeable Heated Back Brace: This back brace uses a built-in rechargeable battery, which can be used wirelessly at any time after it is fully charged.
Heated Back Massage Brace: In addition to providing heat, these back brace are equipped with a vibration massage function to help relax muscles and further relieve pain.
You can consider checking out Fivali's offerings, crafted with high-quality materials to deliver perfect service!