Heat Therapy For Neck Pain

Generally, heat should not be applied to an acute neck injury (3-4 days) or where discoloration or swelling is present. Heat can produce an increase in internal bleeding and swelling where there is significant damage. A strain of a muscle is similar to a cut on a finger. There is pain, swelling and bleeding. You would not use heat initially until the bleeding stops and the tissue forms a scab or scar. Initially, the use of ice for neck pain relief would be recommended, except if you wake up in the morning with a stiff neck from sleeping under a cold draft; Then use heat.

It has been proven that water is a more effective conductor of heat than air. Moist heat has been shown to penetrate 27 times better than dry heat! The neck is able to tolerate moist heat at a higher temperature than dry heat. As this intense heat penetrates painful neck and shoulder tissues, blood vessels dilate, increasing the circulation in the area. The increased blood flow relieves inflammation, brings additional oxygen, carries away toxins and waste for healing, and provides relief from pain. Our heat therapy products ease the cycle of pain and muscle spasm and allow for more natural movement and comfortable rest.

Heat may be used to ease chronic neck pain associated with arthritis and/or poorly healed neck injuries. The easiest and most effective way to apply heat to the neck muscles is the use of neck wraps designed specifically for the neck.

Other methods of applying heat for neck pain relief are hot showers, hot water bottles, hot tubs and electric heating pads.

Hot water bottles are frequently used to apply heat. Fill the bottle half full of hot water. Remove the excess air by pressing it above the water level with your hands, this helps it conform more readily to the body. Check the temperature against the back of your hand or forearm to make sure it's not too hot. A towel wrapped around the bottle provides comfort and safety. After applying heat, hang the bottle upside down to dry. A disadvantage to this method is that the water cools rapidly and must be changed frequently.

Hot tubs or heated whirlpools can relax neck muscles and ease joint stiffness. The temperature of the water should be about 104F (40C). Higher water temperatures may produce a sensation of fever and/or drowsiness. Do not drink alcohol while using a hot tub. I do not recommend this method for the neck, instead, use a shower which can be more easily controlled and provides a better neck posture.

Another method to apply heat for neck pain relief is electric heating pads. Again, I do not recommend this type of heat for the neck. Most electric heating pads are not designed for the neck, have limited flexibility and may cause burns if set too high and you fall asleep during use. Additionally, many electric heating pads use a dry type of heat which may cause congestion and irritation. You should never; lay on the heating pad, use pins or other metal fasteners, use without a cover or fold sharply.

A word of caution when applying heat therapy to the neck. Never apply creams, gels or ointments like biofreeze, icy-hot or bengay prior to the heat. These types of products can cause a numbing sensation and prevent you from feeling exactly how hot the heat really is on your neck. A nice way to continue therapy after using heat is to apply on of our healing herbs products as the warmth generated from heat application allows deeper penetration.

Another note about the disposable heat packs advertised frequently. Continuous low level dry heat has been around for many years and the disposable hot wraps that stick to your body designed for 8 hours of application uses use iron oxidizing technology which produces a dry heat applied directly to the body has not been proven to be more or less effective than a single 20 minute moist heat application. Some materials in disposable heat wraps are toxic if swallowed and can cause irritation when held against the skin for hours.

Moist heat therapy has long been the preferred treatment for many types of acute (short-term) or long-lasting, chronic pain. Headache, including sinus pain or migraine can be relieved or minimized with the application of heat to the face or back of the neck. The lingering after-effects of sports injuries, surgeries, broken bones or auto accidents can often be reduced by using heat (after the first 24-hours) to increase circulation to the area, which will help reduce bruising, swelling, muscle spasm, inflammation, stiffness and pain. Tendon and/or joint problems such as TMJ, carpal tunnel, tendonitis, tennis elbow, rotator cuff (shoulder) pain or any type of knee pain (whether from torn cartilage, hyper-extension, arthritis or surgery) often respond well to moist heat therapy after the acute stage. Many types of muscle spasm, back pain, neck pain, arthritis pain - nearly any condition that involves pain, swelling or inflammation - may be relieved to a surprising extent by a quick moist heat therapy session.

Consider this study in Spine. 15 May 2002; 27(10):1012-1017, using heat wrap therapy was shown to be superior to maximum nonprescription dosages of acetaminophen and ibuprofen for the treatment of acute nonspecific low back pain. Heat wrap therapy was superior for pain relief, reduction in muscle stiffness, improved flexibility, and reduction in disability, as compared with both acetaminophen and ibuprofen. The heat wrap study can be used as a guide for the neck and should allows patients with non-specific neck problems to similarly receive pain relief and return to normal activity.

Heat is a great method to ease neck muscle soreness. I recommend using a neck wrap for 15-20 minutes prior to using the neck exercises recommended here to warm up the muscle for added flexibility. Another effective way to use heat is in conjunction with self massage to specific areas of neck muscle strain called trigger points.

If you have questions related to using heat for neck pain relief, please feel free to contact Neck Solutions.