Heat and cold is commonly used separately or in combination as part of professional or at-home, non-surgical treatments of back pain, neck pain and other symptoms related to the spine. Cold therapy works to slow inflammation and swelling, numb sore tissues, slow nerve impulses in injured areas, and decrease tissue damage.  Heat therapy works to stretch the soft tissues; increase the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients to the muscles; stimulate the skin’s sensory receptors; decrease transmission of pain signals; and accelerate the body’s natural healing processes.

• Heat and Cold Therapy Health Center – Spine-health.com
• Cold Therapy for Back Pain Relief – Spine-health.com article
• Heat Therapy for Lower Back Pain – Spine-health.com article

In this ISASS Guide for Patients:

• Common Spinal Conditions
• Non-Surgical Spine Treatments
• Surgical Spine Treatments

Content provided by: Spine-health
© 1999-2010 Spine-health

The information provided herein should not be used as a substitute for medical advice in any way.  A licensed medical professional should be consulted for any and all medical conditions and symptoms.