Heat will be most helpful with back pain if you have really tight muscles. Muscles that are taut when touched, or muscle that feel like your back is going to spasm.
Heat is going to feel better on back pain that isn't new, chronic low back pain is likely to respond better to heat. You want to help your muscles get a little bit more blood flow, soften up a little bit, and feel less stiff when you are moving around. Then you want to get moving, the movement is really what kind of is going to make you feel better for the long term. But muscles that are angry, inflamed, and not moving may need a little help; put a little heat on there and then go walking.
A word of caution: heat can be helpful to not burn yourself don't leave it on for longer than about 20 minutes. Burning your skin is not a good thing.
Did your back pain just start? You might want to consider ice instead.
-FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers of Oklahoma City
FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers of Oklahoma City provides orthopedic physical therapy in Lakeside, The Village, Nichols Hills and surrounding NW Oklahoma City. Our physical therapists are specially trained to treat all types of pain, movement disorders, and musculoskeletal dysfunction including incontinence after radical prostatectomy in men. Our practitioners take a patient-centered individualized approach that focuses on your pelvic health needs. If you are unsure about your pelvic health, or you want to see the FYZICAL Difference for yourself, schedule a free consultation today.