Wheat bags for knee pain

 At some point in their lives, most people will experience knee pain. There are many causes of knee pain, including arthritis, ligament injuries, meniscal tears, patellar tendonitis or a dislocated kneecap. Some knee injuries can be corrected with surgery; however, there are many that require physical therapy and a great deal of time. Other conditions, such as arthritis of the knee, can make even simple tasks such as walking, painful. Whatever the reason for your knee pain, one of the most effective treatments is heat therapy using a wheat bag, also known as thermotherapy.

 

 

Why Heat Therapy Is So Effective

There are many benefits to using a wheat bag for heat therapy for knee pain. Heat causes blood vessel dilation, which increases the oxygen supply to the body. This helps promote healing and rapid regeneration of damaged tissues. In addition, the increased blood flow to the knee provides a surplus of nutrients, protein, and oxygen, which are all important to healing. Heat provides pain relief by stimulating the pain sensors in the skin. It decreases the amount and frequency of pain signals that are sent to the brain.

Heat therapy also helps relax and loosen the tissue in around the knee. The muscles, tendons, and ligaments can move with more freedom, which helps to reduce the chances of further injury. Heat therapy is also very effective at reducing stiffness and increasing flexibility due to arthritis.

When to Use Heat Therapy

Many people wonder if they should apply ice or heat to knee pain. There is a simple answer to this question. If your knee is injured, it is best to apply ice within 48 hours of the injury. However, once those 48 hours have passed or if the knee pain is a recurring problem, heat therapy is the best treatment.

Most physicians and physical therapists recommend that the first fifteen minutes that heat is applied is the most beneficial. It is also recommended that heat therapy is used before exercising or other activities which may cause pain. Heat applied after exercise can help prevent pain and discomfort, as well. Swelling is often an accompanying symptom of a knee injury and heat therapy is very effective at reducing this inflammation.

Unlike ice or cold therapy, heat therapy is not limited to just the first 48 hours after an injury. The warmth of the heat can be used anytime there is pain, stiffness, reduced flexibility, or inflammation. Some arthritis sufferers find that heat therapy first thing in the morning helps reduce their knee pain substantially – enough to comfortably get through their day.

A wheat bag can also be frozen and used as a cold compress so it really is ideal for treating knee pain.

Applying Heat Therapy

While there are several products available for heat therapy, one of the most common complaints about some of these products is that it is difficult to keep the heat applied correctly. A microwavable wheat bag is a good alternative to some of the other products, as it moulds itself to the affected area.

Knee pain affects millions of people and for some sufferers, it can be debilitating. A wheat bag as a method of heat therapy can provide relief for pain, inflammation, stiffness, and decreased flexibility. Remember that heat therapy is the most effective within the first 15 minutes of application. In addition, applying heat before exercise or activity substantially reduces the chance of further injury.

A wheat bag is a convenient and effective method to apply heat therapy to knee pain. Simply heat in a microwave then apply to the affected area and enjoy the benefits of the soothing warmth. Check out the Zhu-Zhu range of wheat bags for knee pain.