When do you use a heated pack

You could use small heated gel packs or a hot water bottle if you only want to treat an injury locally. Regional treatment is best for more widespread pain or stiffness, and could be achieved with a steamed towel, large heating pad, or heat wraps. Full body treatment would include options like saunas or a hot bath. There are certain cases where heat therapy should not be used.

If the area in question is either bruised or swollen or both , it may be better to use cold therapy. People with certain pre-existing conditions should not use heat therapy due to higher risk of burns or complications due to heat application. These conditions include:. If you have either heart disease or hypertension, ask your doctor before using heat therapy. If you are pregnant, check with your doctor before using saunas or hot tubs. Heat therapy is often most beneficial when used for a good amount of time, unlike cold therapy, which needs to be limited.

Moderate to severe pain can benefit from longer sessions of heat therapy like warm bath, lasting between 30 minutes and two hours. Cold therapy is also known as cryotherapy. It works by reducing blood flow to a particular area, which can significantly reduce inflammation and swelling that causes pain, especially around a joint or a tendon. It can temporarily reduce nerve activity, which can also relieve pain. There are a number of different ways to apply cold therapy to an affected area.

Treatment options include:. People with sensory disorders that prevent them from feeling certain sensations should not use cold therapy at home because they may not be able to feel if damage is being done.

This includes diabetes, which can result in nerve damage and lessened sensitivity. For home treatment, apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel or ice bath to the affected area. You should never apply a frozen item directly to the skin, as it can cause damage to the skin and tissues. Apply cold treatment as soon as possible after an injury. Use cold therapy for short periods of time, several times a day.

Ten to 15 minutes is fine, and no more than 20 minutes of cold therapy should be used at a time to prevent nerve, tissue, and skin damage. You can elevate the affected area for best results. If you have an infection and use heat therapy, there is a chance that the heat therapy could increase the risk of the infection spreading.

Put on the affected area to ease muscle spasm. Heating pad Be sure to protect any type of heating pad device from coming in direct contact with the skin. Cold Eases pain by numbing the affected area. Reduces swelling and inflammation. Reduces bleeding. Types of cold packs Ice towel Dampen a towel with cold water. Fold it and place it in a plastic, sealable bag. Place the bag in the freezer for 15 minutes.

Remove from freezer and place it on the affected area. Ice pack or cold compress Put ice in a plastic, sealable bag. Simply increasing the temperature of the skin will do little to decrease discomfort. Heat is an effective treatment for back and neck strains. Learn how to make a homemade heat pack with common household items. In many instances, the longer the heat is applied, the better. For very minor back tension, short amounts of heat therapy may be sufficient such as 15 to 20 minutes.

For more intense injuries, longer sessions of heat may be more beneficial such as 30 minutes to 2 hours, or more. A specific type of heat therapy may feel better for one person than for another, and it may require some experimentation to figure out which one works best.

There are many different manners for heat to be applied to the lower back. Some common options include:.