• Far North Saunas •

Natural Pain Relief

In a Far North sauna, the deep heat helps blood vessels dilate, bringing relief and healing to muscle and soft tissue injuries. Increased blood circulation carries off metabolic waste products and delivers oxygen rich blood to oxygen depleted muscles, so they recover faster. In Europe, radiant heat therapy is widely used to treat patients suffering from many forms of arthritis. Far infrared therapy in Japan has been effective in providing pain relief to those suffering from back pain, sprains, strains, bursitis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, headache, and many other muscular-skeletal ailments. Much of the stiffness and soreness that comes with aging is reduced or eliminated in the infrared saunas.

Article

Heat Therapy More Effective Than Analgesics for Low Back Pain Relief

SOURCE: New Jersey Medical School

At UMDNJ New Jersey Medical School -Researcher Finds Heat Therapy More Effective Than Analgesics for Low Back Pain Relief -Study Published in May 15 Issue of the Journal Spine

NEWARK, N.J.--(BW HealthWire)--May 15, 2002--Low level heat therapy is more effective than over-the-counter oral medications for relieving low back pain, according to the results of a nationwide study led by a sports medicine researcher at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ).

In the six-month study involving 371 patients, participants were given the maximum recommended non-prescription dosages of ibuprofen and acetaminophen or low level heat therapy for two days to treat acute low back pain.

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

"Although clinical guidelines in the U.S. have recommended the use of self-administered heat, this is the first study to compare the effectiveness of topical heat treatment versus oral analgesics for treating muscle pain and stiffness," according to Dr. Scott F. Nadler, director of sports medicine at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School in Newark and co-investigator of the study.

"Confirming that this 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 usage," said Dr. Nadler, who is also an associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the medical school.

Date Published: 2002-10-01