Susan Baker explains this a bit further: “In the case of icing and heating back muscles it’s important to note that although a hot shower might feel good, the heat might actually be increasing inflammation by opening up blood vessels. Use heat for 15 to 20 minutes, then a few hours later use ice for 10 to 15 minutes.”ĭr. The University of Michigan says, “You may also want to try switching between heat and cold. This means that you may want to try both ice and heat for your back pain. Some back pain is caused by a variety of factors, including both muscles and the spine itself. When to Alternate Between Ice and Heat for Back Pain If you live with ongoing back pain, heat may be your answer to temporary relief and stretching safely. This is especially helpful to improve range of motion on a joint that maybe isn’t moving as well.” The increased blood flow relaxes tight muscles and relieves aching joints. The Cleveland Clinic indicates that “If you’re dealing with lingering injuries (older than 6 weeks) then it’s okay to use heat. On the other hand, if you have chronic back pain, heat may be better than ice. So if you pulled a muscle this morning while working in the garden, apply ice quickly (or a bag of frozen vegetables)! When to Use Heat for Back Pain The Cleveland Clinic says that, in the battle of back pain, “Ice wins to shut down swelling, inflammation and pain early on where heat may actually make an injury worse.” Generally speaking, ice is better than heat for back pain that may be caused by an acute injury. Let’s review some general principles for when to pick either ice or heat for back pain, and then we’ll look at the most common causes of back pain to help you pick between ice and heat. Either heat or ice may be better for some back pain, and actually be detrimental to other pain.īefore we continue to unpack whether ice or heat is better for back pain, it’s important to remind you that the best advice will come from your doctor, who will have the best understanding of what may be behind your back pain. It’s a tricky question to answer, because it depends on what is causing your back pain and where the pain is located. If you are struggling with back pain, you may wonder whether ice or heat is better to treat it.
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