The heating pad is an electric mat that heats up and is held against the body to reduce pain. Your ability to move around and participate in physical activities may be hampered by muscle spasms, joint pain, and back stiffness. Heat therapy is good for back pain, even though medicine can help reduce inflammation. This type of therapy is not anything new. Its origins can be traced to the Greek and Egyptian ages when sun therapy was practiced. Even as a form of pain management, the Chinese and the Japanese used hot springs. You no longer need to go outside to find relief. The use of heat therapy has become more convenient and accessible thanks to heating pads. Check out some of the advantages of heat therapy for back pain below.
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The benefits of heat therapy for back pain
Because heat therapy increases circulation, which enables nutrients and oxygen to reach joints and muscles, it is a successful treatment for back pain. This circulation reduces swelling, eases inflammation, and lessens back stiffness. Back pain can be relieved by heat therapy. However, heating pads are the best option since they are portable and convenient. Additionally, because they are electric, you may use them wherever in your house, including in bed or when lounging on the couch.
Warm or hot baths offer moist heat that promotes circulation and eases soreness and inflammation in the muscles. A bath may be more beneficial if you also experience pain or stiffness in other areas of your body. The problem with baths, though, is that it’s challenging to maintain the water temperature. That water will slowly cool down.
As long as the location is turned on, heating pads, on the other hand, have adjustable levels and deliver a constant flow of heat. If you do not have a heating pad, soaking in a hot tub or taking a warm shower will also help you feel better. Constant heat, like a heating pad, is one advantage of a hot tub and shower over a bath.
How to use an electric heating pad?
This Pads can quickly get heated and cause skin damage. Therefore, it’s essential to use them correctly. Always start on the lowest setting. Start by setting the heating pad to its lowest level. to begin. A calm neighborhood may be enough to ease minor aches, pains, and stiffness. If necessary, you can progressively crank up the heat. There are no strict guidelines regarding how long to leave a heating pad on your back. Everything depends on the intensity of the discomfort and your heat sensitivity. To prevent burns, however, if you use this pad on a high setting, take it off after 15 to 30 minutes. You can use the electric heating pad for longer on a low setting, perhaps up to an hour. On a low setting, you can use the heating pad for a more extended period, maybe up to one hour.
Use caution if you are pregnant
Using a heating pad is safe if you are pregnant and have back pain. The best course of action would be to avoid prolonged exposure because a fetus can become injured from overheating. It could result in problems or defects in the neural tube. Although it is more likely in a hot tub or sauna, proceed with caution. While expecting, only use a heating pad for 10 to 15 minutes at the lowest setting. Use these pads as soon as painful flare-ups or stiffness appear to reduce pain signals and boost circulation. This will hasten the healing process.
Types of heating pads
For back discomfort, many heating pads are available. This consists of a typical electric heating pad with different heat settings. An alternative is an infrared heating pad. Since the heat gets deeper into the muscles, it helps with moderate to severe pain. When shopping for a heating pad, look for one that has an automatic shut-off feature to prevent overheating and burns in case you fall asleep on the place. You can find electric heat pads at your local pharmacy or shop for one online.
Gel packs
You can use a hot gel pack or heat wrap underneath your clothes if you don’t have a heating pad on hand. Apply a gel pack to a hurting back after heating it in the microwave for one to two minutes, as directed on the packaging. Additionally, you can utilize particular gel packs for cold therapy. You can get heat wraps and gel packs online or at your neighborhood pharmacy.
Precautions and safety tips
Although they help treat pain, heating pads can be harmful if not used properly. Here are some safety recommendations to prevent harm.
- Never apply a heated gel pack or heating pad to your skin. To prevent burns, wrap it in a towel before putting it on the skin.
- Do not use a heating pad to induce sleep.
- When using a heating pad, turn the heat intensity up gradually from the lowest setting.
- Use caution if a heating pad’s electrical cord is cracked or broken.
- Never use a heating pad on skin that has been injured.
How to make a homemade heating pad
If you do not have one already, you can create one with supplies you already have at home. You will need an old cotton sock, plain rice, a sewing machine, or a needle and thread for this to work. Rice should be stuffed into the used sock, leaving just enough room at the top for sewing the ends together. After that, microwave the hose for three to five minutes.
Apply the sock to your back when the microwave has finished operating. Before using, let the hose cool or wrap it in a cloth if it is too hot. The rice sock can also function as a cooling pack. Place it in the freezer before using it on severe wounds.
When using heat and when to use ice?
Keep in mind that not all types of back pain should be treated with heat. It can ease the persistent pain and stiffness brought on by rheumatoid arthritis and other muscular or joint conditions. Cold therapy, however, is more efficient if your back injury is recent since it constricts blood vessels and lessens swelling, which helps dull pain. After an injury, apply cold therapy for the first 24 to 48 hours before switching to heat therapy to promote blood flow and recovery.
The takeaway
Everything from working to exercising is challenging when your back is uncomfortable and stiff. The key to relieving stiffness and inflammation may be heat therapy. If you do not have a heating pad, think about taking a hot bath, shower, or making your heating pad. These could deliver the outcomes you require to restart your journey.
Top 5 best heating pads to get rid of pain quickly
Dr Care Velvet Grey Heat Therapy Orthopaedic Pain Reliever Electric Heating Pad for Joints, Muscle, Back, Leg, Shoulder, Knee, Neck (with Auto Temperature Controller)
About this item
- Fast heat & fast relief: For quick heat and immediate replacement, the Elove Heating Pad technology helps give soothing heat relief in 30 seconds. Feel the benefits of heat treatment as it helps to improve blood flow to sore areas, resulting in relaxed muscles and quicker recovery.
- Ultraheat technology: Ultra Heat Technology achieves the highest temperature & maintains consistent heat for maximum relief. Ideal for hot therapy to relieve pain, stress, and discomfort in the lumbar/lower back area and abdominal/stomach area. Experience relief from muscle stiffness, joint pain, and body cramps with heating pads designed for all-over comfort and flexibility. There are various options to deliver heat therapy to the specific areas where your pain is.
Sai acupressure products Electric Heating Pads hot water bags for pain relief, heating bag electric, Heating Pad with charger heating bag best_Multi color
About this item
- Heating pouch An electric heating pad can be charged for only five to ten minutes and last for approximately 120 minutes (depending on the surrounding temperature). Its substantial advantages are its ease of usage and the low electricity consumption of a portable rechargeable heating pad.
- Heating bag Operation: Does not require filling of water, whereas using a rechargeable heat pad helps provide instant relief from pain and treatment of sports injuries, arthritis, sore neck, backaches, muscular aches, cramps, hypothermia, sprains, growing pains
Coif Heating Bag with Gel Hot Water Bags Heating Pad Electric for Back Pain Orthopedic Electric Heating Belt for Knee, Shoulder, Lumbar, Joints, Muscle, Leg, Wrist, and Nack for Pain Relief-Heat Pouch
About this item
- Heat is excellent for menstrual pain relief in addition to relieving muscle pain. All you need to do is plug them in to get started. We can hardly control the weather, but we have the right tools to deal with the harsh weather effectively.
- Long heat retention, increased safety, quick charging, and simple cordless application.
- Now that winter is here, you must have realized that it has gotten much harder to stay warm and appreciate the wonders of sleep.
ELOVE Electric Heating Pad – Orthopedic Heating Pad Electric for Pain Heat Therapy with Fast Heating Technology Heating belt for joints, muscles, shoulders, abdominal, neck, and back pain relief (Blue)
About this item
- Fast heat & fast relief: For quick heat and quick relief, the Elove Heating Pad technology helps deliver soothing heat relief in 30 seconds. Feel the benefits of heat treatment as it helps to improve blood flow to sore areas, resulting in relaxed muscles and quicker recovery.
- Ultraheat technology: Ultra Heat Technology maintains a constant heat at the most significant temperature for the most alleviation. There are numerous ways to apply heat therapy to the precise locations where your discomfort resides.
Asbob velvet heating pad electric for pain relief, hot bag electric gel, electric hot bag for pain relief & hot bottle for back pain (Multi Color & Multi Design) Auto-Cut – PACK OF 2
About this item
- Multicolour & Multi-Design.
- As bob’s electric heating pad charging time is 5–15 minutes, and it stays warm for 1-3 hours.
- Asbob Velvet Electric Heating Pad runs on electricity; no hassles with heating water on gas or heaters.
- In contrast to the conventional hot water bag, the Asbob Velvet electric hot water bottle does not need to change the water, as it only needs to be charged by electricity to be heated.
