4. Heat:
Heat can provide healing benefits to a back riddled with pain caused by muscle spasm and tightness. This works in a few ways. One is by dilating the blood vessels in the area the heat is applied. This introduces more oxygen to the area, improving the healing process. Another model of this method is that when the sensory receptors are sending temperature signals to the brain, they have less power to send pain signals to the brain, thereby lowering the pain signals… a simple overstimulation to reduce the power.
The heat therapy also works by softening the muscles… almost like melting butter, in order to reduce stiffness, a very good thing in these cases. A healthy back is a flexible back. A hot bath or lying on a heating pad is a great way to soothe exhausted, achy muscles that are causing you pain. You can apply these techniques easily to your routine.