Severe Back Pain

The Benefits and Uses of Temperature Treatment for Pain Relief

Is applying ice the best option for individuals who experience an acute back strain injury?

Temperature Treatment

Ice temperature treatment, also known as cryotherapy or cold therapy, is a treatment that uses freezing temperatures to reduce pain and swelling. It can be applied in a variety of ways, including:

  • Ice packs:
  • Ice massage
  • Coolant sprays
  • Whirlpools
  • Ice baths

Ice is usually recommended for acute injuries and is a common and simple way to treat pain and swelling. Individuals can buy freezable gel packs or make their own with ice cubes in a plastic bag or towel. Heat therapy tends to be used more with chronic issues involving muscle spasms to increase blood circulation.

How Ice Relieves Pain and Reduces Inflammation

Ice temperature treatment works by:

  • Narrowing blood vessels slows blood circulation to the injured area and soft tissues and reduces swelling.
  • Reduced blood flow also helps control excessive swelling.
  • Ice has a short-term analgesic-numbing effect. The coldness numbs nerve endings, relieving pain symptoms.
  • Relieving the pain allows the muscles to relax.

Controlling blood circulation helps control pain by reducing the flow of irritating chemicals that can inundate the injury site. These chemicals are a natural and the correct response to inflammation, but the ice keeps them in check to help control pain.

After a Back Injury

For a back strain injury, ice and anti-inflammatory medication like NSAIDs are the first line of treatment during the inflammatory phase, which usually lasts 24 to 72 hours. Because heat can increase inflammation by increasing blood circulation, it is not recommended as an initial treatment. After the first few days, most doctors and pain specialists recommend using ice or heat, depending on the individual’s preference. While researchers continue to investigate the best ways to treat acute injuries, most doctors still recommend ice as the first line of defense for back injuries.

A review of studies evaluated 20 different treatment categories to learn about their safety and effectiveness. (McIntosh G. & Hall H. 2011) Treatments included over-the-counter pain medications, acupuncture, McKenzie exercises, other back exercises, and temperature treatments. Regarding temperature treatment, the review found moderate evidence that using a heat wrap 5 days after the injury could help relieve pain. However, there was not enough evidence to support the effectiveness of any of the temperature treatments, necessitating more research. (McIntosh G. & Hall H. 2011)

Physical Therapy and Activity

The review found that prolonged rest should be avoided, and gentle exercise and a progressive return to physical activity should be encouraged to achieve the best outcomes for pain relief and restoring function. Staying active significantly reduces time off from work and chronic disability for up to 1 year compared to traditional medical treatment. (McIntosh G. & Hall H. 2011) Research also found that introducing physical therapy early on could expedite recovery. Mobility work, targeted exercises, and strengthening exercises have been shown to relieve pain, reduce injury recurrence, and improve overall function. More research supports physical activity and exercise as effective treatment options for acute lower back strains. However, further research regarding temperature treatments is required. (French S. D. et al., 2006) (See Q. Y. et al., 2021)

Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic

It is important to talk with a healthcare provider to determine the cause and extent of the injury to provide individualized patient education regarding treatment. This can include physical therapy, rest, health coaching, medication, and surgery, which may be recommended in certain cases. Overcoming these limitations is possible. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic works with primary healthcare providers and specialists to develop an optimal health and wellness solution. We focus on what works for you to relieve pain, restore function, prevent injury, and help mitigate the pain through spinal adjustments that help the body realign itself. They can also work with other medical professionals to integrate a treatment plan to resolve musculoskeletal issues.


Beyond the Surface: Understanding the Effects of Personal Injury


References

McIntosh, G., & Hall, H. (2011). Low back pain (acute). BMJ clinical evidence, 2011, 1102.

French, S. D., Cameron, M., Walker, B. F., Reggars, J. W., & Esterman, A. J. (2006). A Cochrane review of superficial heat or cold for low back pain. Spine, 31(9), 998–1006. doi.org/10.1097/01.brs.0000214881.10814.64

See, Q. Y., Tan, J. B., & Kumar, D. S. (2021). Acute low back pain: diagnosis and management. Singapore Medical Journal, 62(6), 271–275. doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2021086

Post Disclaimer

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "The Benefits and Uses of Temperature Treatment for Pain Relief" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

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