A multi-national study from Europe is reigniting the debate about using heat treatments for non-specific back pain, and it’s a question worth considering. With low back pain causing 65 million years lived with disability globally each year, and the issue seemingly worsening, finding effective treatments is crucial.
For years, experts in sports injuries have generally favored cold treatments over heat. They argue that heat might worsen inflammation if used for too long, especially when the goal is to reduce swelling.
However, treating non-specific back pain might not be the same as handling an acute injury like an ankle sprain. Most back pain flare-ups don’t come from a single traumatic event that tears muscles, unlike ankle sprains.
Despite the relatively small number of studies, current research suggests that heat wraps can be beneficial for non-specific low back pain. According to Jürgen Freiwald from Bergische University in Germany and his colleagues from various European universities, combining therapeutic exercise with heat wraps might offer better relief than either treatment alone. However, they caution that it’s important to rule out any serious underlying conditions before starting heat therapy for back pain.
Source:
Freiwald J, Magni A, Fanlo-Mazas P, et al. A role for superficial heat therapy in the management of non-specific, mild-to-moderate low back pain in current clinical practice: A narrative review. Life. 2021 Aug 2;11(8):780.
