Heat Wrap Therapy

Sports medicine researchers at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) have concluded that heat wrap therapy is more effective for relieving lower back pain than drugs such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

The results were published in Spine Magazine. In the six-month study involving 371 patients, participants were given the maximum recommended non-prescription dosages of ibuprofen and acetaminophen or heat wrap therapy for two days to treat acute lower back pain.

The results showed that the heat wrap therapy provided significantly more pain relief beginning on the first day of treatment than the oral pain relief medications, and that the effects lasted more than 48 hours after the treatment was completed.

Dr. Nadler states, “Confirming that this [heat therapy] treatment is effective is important to patients because it gives them a treatment option that does not have the potential risk to the liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract than can accompany inappropriate analgesic (oral pain medication) usage.” The heat wrap treatments for low back pain also proved to be “better than oral analgesics because it goes beyond pain relief to provide muscle relaxation and increased flexibility.”

Low back pain is the leading cause of disability in people under age 45 and the cost to society is estimated to range from $20 to $50 billion per year, according to statistics provided by the Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Perfect Heat Wrap Therapy Products

A Warm Buddy Sports Therapy Wrap (pictured below) or Body Wrap is the perfect heat wrap to help relieve lower back pain. Warm Buddy products promote relaxation and provide natural relief from aches, pains and stress.

The Full Heat Wrap Therapy Study

Warm Buddy heat therapy products were not used in the study. The full study can be found here: Spine Magazine Heat Therapy Study.