Heat therapy has been in use for pain relief since ages. Use of heat pads for back pain relief is still common throughout the world, and is also recommended by medical professionals as an aid for treating chronic pains in patients of all ages. Heat and warmth is naturally associated with relaxation and comfort, which makes heat therapy a natural remedy for pain relief and healing in many types of back pain.

Warming the body parts with heat pads and heat wraps is the most common form of heat therapy, which makes it very simple and affordable. These items are easy to use and are often reusable. A bottle warmer can also be used in this therapy instead of pads.

How heat pads help relieve pain

The most common causes of back pain episodes are over-exertion and various kinds of strain, which create tension in the muscles and soft tissues under shoulder blades and around the lower spine. This muscle spam and tension blocks proper circulation and sends pain signals to the brain. As a result, either mild pain or severe discomfort is felt in upper or lower back. Heating pads help relieve the muscle spam and related tension in the back. This action is the result of heat’s interacting with various body processes described below:

The blood vessels in muscle surrounding the lower spine are dilated by application of heat, which increases the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles helping quick healing of the tissues. The application of heat also stimulates the sensory receptors in the skin that are responsible for transmitting pain signals. As a result, the transmission of pain signals is decreased, which partly soothes the discomfort caused by pain. Heat also decreases the stiffness in the tissue making it more flexible, which facilitates the stretching of soft tissue and muscles around the spine resulting in the feeling of comfort.

Advantages of heat pads

There are various advantages of heat pads in pain relief. Firstly, it is very easy to use heat pads. You don’t need any special therapeutic training or medical supervision to apply them. The only thing you should take care of is to maintain proper temperature. It should not be so hot that the patient complaints of burning; its temperature should be such that there is enough heat that can penetrate into the muscles to reach the soft tissue. Moderate heating can be applied for 15 to 20 minutes in case of mild back pain, while for severe pains it can be applied for 30 minutes to a couple of hours.

Secondly, heat pads are inexpensive, widely available, and can be used anytime, anywhere. You can apply them at home while relaxing, or use them at pool sides if you have an adequate kit. Heat wraps is another variant of pads which can be used even while driving.

Besides this, pain relief brought about by heat pads is non-invasive, i.e. no other body part is affected by their application, hence they can be used in all ages and in all conditions.