Back spasm pain relief can be achieved by using heat therapy to soothe and slow contracting muscles. These spasms are a common problem that can keep people laid up for days at a time and can be caused by lifting weights, playing sports, or just bending in an abnormal or awkward way. These spontaneous muscle contractions can be extremely painful when it occurs near the spinal cord or nerves.
Back spasms usually occur suddenly and feel like a severe twisting or pulling of the muscles. Over the course of a few hours the muscles begin to bleed slightly and additional stretching of the affected muscles and tendons occurs. This leads to a patient being uncomfortable for a number of days while the area heals and returns to it’s normal state. Applying heat to the back helps dilate the blood vessels in that area and allows the flow of oxygen to increase. This helps aid in healing the damaged tissue.
Aside from heat therapy helping heal the muscles and tendons in the back, heat can also decrease the amount of pain signals that are sent to the brain by stimulating the sensory receptors that are on the surface of the skin. This helps take away some of the pain in the back as well as the stiffness that occurs with spasms.
Back spasm pain relief achieved by heat therapy is an extremely affordable and convenient method of treatment. Heat packs are typically heated to a warm (not hot) temperature in the microwave in a matter of minutes and can be used again and again. Different sizes are available and contour to the curves of the back to make sure optimal coverage is being achieved. When the heat wears off, the pack can be heated again and placed on the area of the back that is experiencing spasms. Providing just a small degree of warmth for 15 to 30 minutes at a time can make a big difference in the overall healing time.
Back spasm pain relief in the form of heat can be combined with stretching and mildly exercising the area for a faster recovery. Heat therapy allows for a non-invasive and drug free option of pain relief that will help people get back on their feet in a short amount of time. Some people may be at a higher risk of back spasms if they suffer from arthritis or a condition that affects the spine. Thermal-Aid heating pads and packs are a great, affordable product to have on hand when back spasms or other muscle discomfort occurs.