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Is putting heat on a sore muscle bad?

JustinE22 Posts: 1,312 Joined: 2003/09/18	2004/02/11, 03:11 PM My lower back is sore from deadlifts and i bought some thermacare heating pads. I was wondering if this was ok? And if it will help with pain relief?
Ogun Posts: 559 Joined: 2002/08/11	2004/02/11, 09:10 PM I just tried the Thermacare pads for the first time a couple of days ago. There is some relief and even though I took them off right before bed, I felt better in the morning when I woke up--less pain, more mobility. However, I think they are ridiculously high-priced, and I won't get them again until I'm rich, if ever. -------------- --There are no versions of the truth.-- Jeff Goldblum, Jurassic Park II
JessicaR Posts: 467 Joined: 2002/08/12	2004/02/12, 08:43 AM I would try ice I think before heat - heat feels good when you use it but it can actually increase inflammation. I have a rice wrap (I loooove it) that can go in the microwave or the freezer. You can even make your own by making a small cloth sack and filling it w/ rice (and herbs that smell good if you want). That said I almost always use my hot rice bag for sore muscles, just because it feels so good. :)
	2004/02/12, 10:05 AM Jessica, do you add water to the rice?? What do you put the rice in?? I make icepacks with ziplocks ans a 50/50 alcohol/water mix. -------------- Some times life is like herding cats. Charlie
JustinE22 Posts: 1,312 Joined: 2003/09/18	2004/02/12, 10:58 AM Will the heat draw the blood away from the other muscles though?
	2004/02/12, 10:59 AM Justin, I think the heat promotes circulation and the ice reduces swelling and inflamation. Hope this helps. -------------- Some times life is like herding cats. Charlie
rpacheco Posts: 3,770 Joined: 2001/12/13	2004/02/12, 06:28 PM I use the gel paks myself (they can also be frozen or microwaved), but usually resort to that when it comes to my tennis elbow. For sore muscles, I just use Ben Gay. -------------- **_Robert_** Pain is temporary; glory is forever!
JessicaR Posts: 467 Joined: 2002/08/12	2004/02/16, 01:30 AM Charlie, just start w/ a flat cloth bag (you can sew two washcloths together), fill it with rice until it's like a beanbag. Then you can put it in the freezer or microwave it. My rice wrap is great; it has a cloth cover w/ long pockets for rice bags that you can wrap over your shoulders and upper back. But I also have a small round homemade flannel one that works just fine.
jsom85 Posts: 316 Joined: 2004/01/16	2004/02/16, 03:13 PM just be sure to not use any form of heating if you had used either bengay, icyhot...ect..on the effected area.
Big-E Posts: 248 Joined: 2002/08/07	2004/02/21, 12:37 PM I asked my doctor about this (was there for a forarm problem), she said try and use a warm towel on my arm before workout then a cold one after workout. Basically the same that Jessica said, warm increases the swelling, cold reduces it.
ursusarktos Posts: 346 Joined: 2004/01/18	2004/02/22, 10:13 AM If its acute inflammation (where there is swelling & heat over the area) cool it down. If it is no longer in the inflammatory stage, but just sore and achy your OK warming it or using a contrast approach. A typical contrast approach is 2 min of warmth followed by 2 min of cooling, repeat 2-3 x, finish with cooling. The point of the contrast approach is help arterial wall musculature (smooth muscle) expand and contract to move blood in and out of the affected area more efficiently.
princesslodgey Posts: 1,748 Joined: 2004/02/21	2004/02/22, 10:26 AM the usual mantra is rest ice and elevation for acute injury and heat for old injuries, however often with back pain there is only a very minor injury with little inflammation but in response to this your back muscles go into spasm (which is what causes all the pain). Cold will actually make the spasm in your muscles worse so if heat helps stick with it! Hope that hasn't confused matters further :)