Name: Justin Lowel A.

Ancog Group M

A Reflection on The Efficacy of Thermotherapy and Cryotherapy on Pain Relief in

Patients with Acute Low Back Pain

Acute low back pain is one of the most common health problems especially in industrialized
countries where 75 per cent of the population develop it at least once during their life. This
study examined the efficacy of thermotherapy and cryotherapy.
The results of the study stated that the intensity of pain was notably reduced in the
interventions (thermotherapy and cryotherapy). The application of thermotherapy and hot
water leads to increase in soft tissue flexibility, muscle resistance, easier and better contraction
of smooth muscles, and improvement in the muscles’ motor function. While the application of
cryotherapy uses a method of localized freezing temperatures to deaden an irritated nerve
thereby inhibiting pain.
However, it is stated that these interventions seem to yield better outcomes if applied
continuously and in long term rather than frequently and in short term
Since these methods have fewer side-effects and are easily accessible, they could be used,
alongside pharmacologic treatments, as supplementary ones for reducing pain in the patients
with low back pain.