How Heat Helps In Treating Pain
Health Shots spoke to Dr Akhilesh Yadav, Associate Director-Orthopaedics and Joint replacement at Max Hospital, who explained to us how heat helps in treating body pain. He says, Applying heat to a region that is inflamed will widen the blood vessels, encourage blood flow, and help in the relaxation of tense and aching muscles.
He further says that in most cases, that is depending on the type of problem, heat therapy is superior to cold therapy. For example, for the treatment of arthritic painful joints and persistent muscular pain, warm compresses are better than ice packs. Unless otherwise specified, heat should typically be applied to the painful region for 20 minutes, up to three times each day. Heat or hot water shouldnt be applied on any fresh injury or open wounds.
Be Proactive About Ice/heat Applications
In some instances, you may experience delayed muscle soreness if you overstretch your lower back muscles. This type of pain often develops gradually over a few days as tissue inflammation progresses. You can ward off inflammation by immediately applying ice after exercising or being active. After 24 hours, switch to heat applications to help overstimulated tissues heal.
Find Relief From Back Pain After Exercise With Ice
When treating your back, your doctor will probably advise you to do some exercise. Exercising is a way of obtaining power to get stronger in your back area. Cold after the exercise will be great.Maybe youâre doing some yoga, walking, going to the gym, or making some workout at home. Your back pain will start easing off as your muscles get stronger, and physical therapy is a great way to help.Applying ice after the exercise is a great idea.Youâll get excellent results by doing it. Here are some advantages of cold after a workout.
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So What Is The Story With Necks
The information we gave explaining what happens to the back when it is iced holds true with necks as well. However, the argument against icing the neck is not as strong as it is with the back, the word never does not apply here.
Just like back pain, the majority of neck pain is not considered inflammatory or injurious in nature. This is the criterion for icing an injury. Just like backs, the neck is easily irritated with cold. Have you ever been hit in the back of the neck with a snow ball? The cold hurts worse than the snow ball impact!
The most common problem people face with their neck is the crick in the neck, which is enough to make you slightly hostile. This is usually brought on by chilly air hitting the neck at night, and not by the way you slept on your pillow.
Even if we break down all of the specifics, it is better to learn by experience. Take a small piece of ice from the freezer and place it on your neck for a few seconds. You will see quickly that your neck does not like it at all.
Unfortunately, no matter what you do, the neck is more fragile than the back. Because the brain knowns this, it pays more attention to the back than it does the neck, and protects it a lot more. Necks are susceptible to being injured a lot more easily, especially with a condition known as whiplash which is way more common than straining muscles in your lower back.
When To Avoid Hot And Cold Therapy
Under certain circumstances, you may need to avoid using cold therapy, heat therapy or both for your lower back pain. If you suffer from any of the following, we always recommend that you talk with your doctor to determine best practices for you.
- Open wounds, dermatitis, blisters or rashes
- Impaired sensations
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Ice Therapy: A Few Scenarios When Its Good For Back Pain
Ice therapy, also known as cryotherapy, is generally meant for fresh injuries. The cold of an ice pack calms inflamed, hot, red or swollen tissue.
While this is your bodys natural reaction to an injury and a component of the healing process, it can be quite painful and last longer than it needs to.
Applying a cold gel pack to your freshly injured back or some other area of the body can dull pain and bring down swelling.
Heat Vs Cold For Chronic Pain
If you suffer from chronic lower back pain, the decision between when you use heat vs. when to use cold isnt quite as clear cut. For most people, obtaining effective relief requires finding a balance between using both heat and cold. If you do exercises to strengthen your back, you may find that applying heat first helps warm up your muscles and get through your workout with ease. Cold works to ease inflammation and pain following a workout.
Chronic lower back pain should be assessed by a medical professional. If you suffer from lower back pain, your Denver physical therapist can help you determine the best course of treatment. To learn more, contact Denver Physical Medicine today.
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Is Heat Or Cold Better For Low Back Pain
Back pain can be crippling especially when your day-to-day life includes motion. If you handle back pain, right here are some remarkable ideas that can assist alleviate your misery.Copulate a pillow under your knees Is Heat Or Cold Better For Low Back Pain
When you have back pain, sleeping can be tough. It can be a vicious circle because when you do not get enough sleep, your back pain may really feel worse. A poor rest position can likewise exacerbate back pain. Attempt pushing your side. Location a cushion between your knees to keep your spinal column in a neutral placement as well as relieve stress on your back. If you need to sleep on your back, slide a cushion under your knees. Make sure to sleep on a conveniently solid mattress.
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Best Types Of Cold Therapy For Lower Back Pain Relief
- Reusable Cold Packs or Compresses – these can be applied locally to the lower back area .
- Cooling Topical Gels – an alternative to ice packs and can be rubbed directly on the lower back to target and reduce inflammation.
- Ice Massage – the combination of cold therapy and massage working together. Massage balls that can be frozen are perfect for this and can also be used while stretching.
- Ice Therapy Machines – this device consists of a water basin filled with ice water + hose that delivers constant cold relief to a flexible therapy pad that can be wrapped around your lower back.
- Ice Baths – often used in sports therapy, these allow you to fully submerge your back in ice cold water temperatures for a short duration of time.
- Whole Body Chambers – with the help of liquid nitrogen, these chambers drop to around -184 degrees fahrenheit to effectively reduce inflammation along with many other benefits.
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Heat Reduces Pain Caused By Stiffness
Heat application facilitates stretching of the soft tissues around the spine, including muscles, connective tissue, and adhesions. Consequently, regular heat therapy on the back typically provides:
- Increased range of motion5Bleakley CM, Costello JT. Do thermal agents affect range of movement and mechanical properties in soft tissues? A systematic review. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2013 94:149-163. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2012.07.023
- Strengthened movements of the trunk6Freiwald J, Hoppe MW, Beermann W, Krajewski J, Baumgart C. Effects of supplemental heat therapy in multimodal treated chronic low back pain patients on strength and flexibility. Clin Biomech . 2018 57:107-113. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2018.06.008
An overall feeling of comfort sets in and daily activities seem less difficult when lower back stiffness is relieved.
Best Types Of Heat Therapy For Lower Back Pain Relief
- Dry Heat
Dry heat is easier to apply than moist, and pulls moisture from the body – which can sometimes dry out the skin. The most common forms of dry heat application for lower back pain include:
- Moist Heat
Moist heat penetrates the lower back tissues more efficiently. The most common forms of moist heat application for the lower back include:
- Warm compresses or heated towels
- Hot tubs, baths and steam rooms
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Ice Vs Heat For Lower Back Pain
For pain in your lower back, consider whether the pain may be caused by an injury, such as a pulled or strained muscle, or if it is chronic. For chronic pain, heat therapy might be best. Dry heat can be applied through a heating pad and moist heat by means of a warm bath or shower. Heat will relax those muscles.
But if your pain is caused by an injury, ice is the better option. In fact, heat may make your back pain worse.
So What Do You Do After A Back Injury
For back strain, people often use ice for the first 48 to 72 hours. Heat increases blood flow and inflammation, and it may not be a good idea at first
After those first few days, most experts recommend the use of either ice or heat, according to your preference. While researchers continue to look into the best ways to treat an acute injury, most doctors still recommend ice as the first line of defense for a back injury.
A 2011 review of studies published in the British Medical Journal Clinical Evidence evaluated 20 different categories of treatment to learn about their safety and effectiveness. Treatments included over-the-counter pain medications such as NSAIDs, acupuncture, McKenzie exercises , and temperature treatments.
The researchers were seeking answers to the following questions:
- What are the effects of oral drug treatments for acute low back pain?
- What are the effects of local injections for acute low back pain?
- What are the effects of non-drug treatments for acute low back pain?
As far as temperature studies go, the review found moderate-quality evidence that using a heat wrap 5 days after the injury may relieve pain. Just the same, the authors cited that overall they did not find enough evidence to judge the effectiveness of any type of temperature treatment.
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When To Use Heat And When To Use Ice
Keep in mind that heat isnt recommended for every type of back pain. It can relieve chronic pain and stiffness, such as those associated with arthritis and other muscle or joint ailments.
However, if your back injury is recent, cold therapy is more effective because it restricts blood vessels and reduces swelling, which can dull pain.
Use cold therapy for the first 24 to 48 hours after an injury, and then switch to heat therapy to stimulate blood flow and healing.
Types Of Cold Therapy
Some ways of using cold therapy include:
- a cold compress or a chemical cold pack applied to the inflamed area for 20 minutes, every 4 to 6 hours, for 3 days. Cold compresses are available for purchase online.
- immersion or soaking in cold, but not freezing, water
- massaging the area with an ice cube or an ice pack in a circular motion from two to five times a day, for a maximum of 5 minutes, to avoid an ice burn
In the case of an ice massage, ice can be applied directly to the skin, because it does not stay in one place.
Ice should not be applied directly to the bony portions of the spinal column.
A cold compress can be made by filling a plastic bag with frozen vegetables or ice and wrapping it in a dry cloth.
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Using Heat And Cold For Pain
When you hurt from a minor strain or sprain to a muscle or tendon, its difficult to think about anything other than your pain. You want relief and you want it fast. Cold, heat or a combination of the two may help. Try these approaches to using these drug-free pain relief options:
- Applying ice to a sore back, swollen knee or sprained ankle can numb the pain and may reduce some of the inflammation. Try wrapping an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables in a cloth and applying it to the painful area. Do this for the first day or two after your injury, every two to four hours. Dont keep the cold wrap on the painful area for more than 20 minutes at a time.
- Heat helps reduce pain by relaxing and loosening tense muscles, and it promotes blood and nutrients to speed healing. Use a heating pad or a moist towel warmed in the microwave and apply it to the painful area. Or you can take a warm bath or shower. Apply heat for up to 20 minutes three times a day. If you use a heating pad, never sleep with it.
- Heat and cold. If you use both ice and heat, apply heat for 15 to 20 minutes, then a few hours later use ice for 15 to 20 minutes. Do this at spaced intervals throughout the day. By rotating between each temperature therapy, youre reducing inflammation and loosening muscles simultaneously, increasing your chances of pain relief.
How Do You Use Ice / Cold As Pain Relief For Your Rotator Cuff Injury
COLD is used to treat injuries or conditions that are red, hot, inflamed, swollen and suffering from tissue damage . Cold is a natural / organic pain reliever that numbs pain right at the source of your injury. While doing this, the cold also stops cellular break-down and reduces the amount of scar tissue forming .
When cold is applied to a rotator cuff injury, all of the soft tissue in the shoulder will squeeze on the veins to slow down your blood flow. This in turn clamps down on the amount of fluid leaking into your injured tissue, decreasing your swelling. This is why cold is used immediately to treat newer shoulder injuries or re-injuries. The cold slows down your body to stop the amount of damage happening to your tissue and decrease your swelling. This cold also has a nice side benefit of numbing the nerves in and around your rotator cuff thereby decreasing your pain.
In the medical world this is something called âVasoconstrictionâ.
Cold can Make Your Rotator Cuff Injury Worse â How?
Applying cold can restrict blood flow and stiffen / tighten soft tissue. Cold is NOT a good treatment method for your rotator cuff tear when the tissue is already tight and constricted, because the cold will just stiffen the tissue further. Instead use a treatment that will increase blood flow, like the Shoulder TShellz Wrap® , to relieve any spasms in your rotator cuff and relax / elongate your tissue making it much more pliable.
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Cold Therapy For Back Pain
Cold therapy reduces blood flow and constricts blood vessels , which helps to reduce swelling and numb the pain. Its best for treating acute pain, such as that caused by injuries, and it should be applied in the first stages of healing .
- Best for acute pain from injuries
- Works for sharp, sudden pain
- Helps reduce swelling and numb pain
- Ideal for the first few days after injury
- Can be used alongside heat therapy for chronic pain
Cold therapy is used in all sorts of healing procedures. It is a component of the RICE method of pain management and is used to treat acute conditions, such as a muscle sprain or strain in the low back. Cold therapy could be as simple as placing a bag of frozen vegetables on a twisted ankle or as complex as taking a dip in a whole-body cryotherapy chamber at a spa.
At its core, cold therapy works by reducing swelling, especially around the joints and tendons. At the same time, it cools the nerves and creates a numbing sensation to help dull the pain. The back is one of the most difficult parts of the body in which to identify swelling. Unlike the ankle or wrist, the inflammation usually stays contained beneath the skin. However, if you believe that your back pain was caused by an injury, such as a pulled muscle, it is probably swelling beneath the surface and could most likely benefit from an ice compress.
When Not To Use Heat
Heat is not suitable for all injury types. Any injury that is already hot will not benefit from further warming. These include infections, burns, or fresh injuries.
Heat should not be used if:
- the skin is hot, red or inflamed
- the person has dermatitis or an open wound
- the area is numb
- the person may be insensitive to heat due to peripheral neuropathy or a similar condition
Ask a doctor first about using heat or cold on a person who hashigh blood pressure or heart disease.
Excessive heat must be avoided.
When cold is applied to the body, the blood vessels contract, vasoconstriction occurs. This means that circulation is reduced, and pain decreases.
Removing the cold causes vasodilation, as the veins expand to overcompensate.
As the blood vessels expand, circulation improves, and the incoming flow of blood brings nutrients to help the injured tissues heal.
Alternating heat and cold can be useful for:
- exercise-induced injury or DOMS
Contrast water therapy uses both heat and cold to treat pain. Studies show that it is more effective at reducing EIMD and preventing DOMS than doing nothing.
A review of studies has suggested that, for elite athletes, CWT is better at reducing muscle pain after exercise compared with doing nothing or resting.
However, the researchers point out that it may not better than other strategies, such as heat treatment, cold treatment, stretching, or compression. They say that more evidence is necessary.
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