Dealing with back pain can keep you from doing the activities you enjoy, and finding relief is a priority. Whether your pain is the result of a sports injury or a chronic condition, using heat and ice therapy can be an effective method of treatment. Here are some points you should know so that you can get the most from this method.

The Benefits of Heat & Ice Therapy

Heat and ice therapy means applying heat or cold to an injured or sore area using items like heating pads or ice packs. It's a natural form of treatment you can perform at home. Studies show that these treatments, especially heat, can be more effective at relieving pain than medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. For some people, alternating cold and heat helps reduce pain and speed healing. Your chiropractor can help determine the smartest way to alleviate pain.

How Ice & Heat Help Back Pain

Treating pain with ice can help numb the injured area, reduce pain, and bring down swelling. Ice therapy for lower back pain also reduces tissue damage, which can speed recovery.

Heat is the preferred treatment for muscle injuries after the swelling has gone down since it encourages healing. Warming the affected area draws oxygen and blood to the site, helping repair and restore the muscles. Heat is also a smart choice for reducing general aches; it helps loosen muscles and relieves the tension that contributes to pain.

Top Ways to Use Heat & Ice for Pain

Generally speaking, use ice within the first 72 hours after an injury. Apply cold compresses, ice packs, or even packages of frozen vegetables to the painful area for up to 20 minutes at a time. Put a cloth or towel between the ice pack and your skin to prevent an ice burn.

Use heat any time to reduce pain and soreness. Try a heating pad, heat patch, body wrap, or warm bath. Moist heat, like a bath or warm compress, can be more effective because it takes less time to work than dry heat. Apply moist heat for 30 minutes to two hours — or dry heat for up to eight hours — to bring relief.

If you’re living with back pain and struggling to find relief on your own, Dr. Mark Korchok at The Chiropractic & Sports Injury Center of Cincinnati will help. For more than 30 years, Dr. Korchok has been providing compassionate, customized care for athletes, children, and adults suffering from a wide range of injuries and conditions in the Cincinnati area. To learn more about the practice’s methods and state-of-the-art treatments, visit the website. Call (513) 677-2200 to talk to a staff member and schedule an appointment.