How to apply heat therapy
The most effective heat therapy products are the ones
that can maintain their heat at the proper temperature.
“Warm” is the proper temperature. Patients
should not have their heat source be hot to the point
of burning the skin. The desired effect is for the heat
to penetrate down into the muscles. Simply increasing
the temperature of the skin will do little to decrease
discomfort.
In many instances, the longer the heat is applied,
the better. The duration that one needs to apply the
heat, though, is based on the type of and/or magnitude
of the injury. For very minor back tension, short amounts
of heat therapy may be sufficient (such as 15 to 20
minutes). For more intense injuries, longer sessions
of heat may be more beneficial (such as 30 minutes to
2 hours, or more).
Two options of heat therapy include moist heat and
dry heat.
-
Dry heat, such as electric heating
pads and saunas, draw out moisture from the body
and may leave the skin dehydrated. However, some
people feel that dry heat is the easiest to apply
and feels the best.
-
Moist heat, such as hot baths,
steamed towels or moist heating packs can aid in
the heat’s penetration into the muscles, and
some people feel that moist heat provides better
pain relief.
A specific type of heat therapy may feel better for
one person than for another, and it may require some
experimentation to figure out which one works best.
There are many different manners for heat to be applied
to the lower back. Some common options include:
-
Electric heating pad - maintains
a constant level of heat as long as it is plugged
in.
-
Heated gel packs - may be microwaved,
or sometimes heated in water, and tend to say warm
for about 30 minutes. Certain types of gel packs
provide moist heat, which some people prefer.
-
Heat wraps - wraps around the
lower back and waist and may be worn against the
skin under clothing, providing convenience and several
hours of low level of heat application.
-
Hot bath, hot tub, sauna, steam bath
- tend to stimulate general feelings of comfort
and relaxation that may help reduce muscle spasm
and pain. A whirlpool jet directed at the lower
back may provide the added benefit of a light massage.
Finally, it is important to use enough insulation between
the heat source and the skin to avoid overheating or
burning the skin.
Please note that heat should not be used in certain
circumstances. For example, if the lower back is swollen
or bruised, heat should not be used. Patients should
consult doctors if they have heart disease or hypertension.
Heat application is also not suitable in the following
cases:
In general, if the injured area is swollen or bruised
it is better to apply ice or a cold pack to reduce the
inflammation or swelling.
In summary, heat therapy is an easy and inexpensive
option to provide relief from many forms of lower back
pain. It may be used alone or in conjunction with other
therapies. Because it is so simple, it is often overlooked
and physicians may forget to mention it, but heat therapy
used in the right way can be a valuable part of many
lower back pain treatment programs.
By: Vert
Mooney, MD
March 20, 2003
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