Low-back discomfort
Heat wraps may provide a small, short-term reduction in pain and disability for acute or subacute low-back pain.
Scope & limitsThis finding does not establish lasting relief for chronic pain or results from robotic thermotherapy.
Study details & sources
The Cochrane review included nine heat/cold trials overall. ACP’s 2017 guideline includes superficial heat among non-drug options for acute or subacute nonradicular low-back pain.

