Benefits of Heat Therapy for Lower Back Pain - | Lufkin and Nacogdoches, Texas

Benefits of Heat Therapy for Lower Back Pain

For too many people, lower back pain is a constant reality.

One of the most effective ways to counteract the pain from tense or strained back muscles is through what is known as heat therapy.

Unlike most medical treatments, heat therapy is both affordable and convenient; most of the time it is possible to do in the comfort of your home.

Heating pads, spas and saunas, and heat wraps are just a few of the ways that heat therapy can provide both pain relief and actual healing benefits for sufferers of lower back pain.

Lower back pain is typically caused by muscle strain and over-exertion. This can not only create severe tension in the muscle and tissue around the spine and vertebrae, but restricts blood flow, causing most of the pain.

Too much tension can cause muscle spasms that can range from mild discomfort to debilitating pain. Heat therapy can help to both relieve the pain from these spasms, and relax the tightened muscles in the back.

This is accomplished by several means. The application of heat causes the blood vessels of the affected muscle to dilate, increasing the flow of blood to the muscle. This in turn allows more oxygen and nutrients to reach the damaged tissue, helping it to heal more quickly.

Heat also stimulates the sensory receptors in the skin near the affected area, decreasing the pain signals sent to the brain by the damaged muscle. The relief of pain allows the body to relax, further easing discomfort.

Another effect of easing tension is the longer-lasting benefit of increased flexibility. Heat facilitates the stretching of soft tissue around the spine, including connective tissue and adhesions, allowing stiffness to melt away, and helping to prevent future strain and spasms. When flexibility increases, stiffness and pain are reduced, and overall health and comfort are improved.

Heat therapy is so beneficial because it is easy, convenient, and non-invasive compared to pharmaceutical forms of relief and treatment. With heat therapy, the natural alternative can be the best alternative.

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