Tired of Lower-Back Pain? Get Relief Fast With ThermBack LED’s Innovative 4-in-1 Therapy
Authors: Therabody Scientists: Tim Roberts, MSc; Rachelle Reed, PhD, MS, ACSM-EP; Kyle Silvey, PhD, CSCS; Josh Adams, MS, CSCS, Michelle Darian, MS, MPH, RD, LDN
Low back pain is something that 84% of adults are likely to experience in their lifetime. [1] For those who are currently living with it, you’re all too familiar with the achiness, sharp jolt, or tingling radiating from the lower half of your back. It’s uncomfortable, consumes your mental energy, and makes going about your life more challenging.
Therabody’s mission is to make at home relief more accessible — which is why we’re excited to introduce ThermBack LED — a new 4-in-1 wearable therapy for fast, effective lower back pain relief.
Whether your pain stems from general wear and tear, current (or past) injuries, nerve compression, repetitive strain for exercise, or stress, this device can help provide the relief you’ve been looking for.
What is ThermBack LED?
ThermBack LED provides fast relief for lower back pain and is the most advanced back therapy wrap on the market. That’s because this adjustable garment fits snugly around your low back to deliver four precise, science-backed treatments that research has shown to be effective for back pain: heat therapy, far-infrared therapy, vibration, and near-infrared LED light therapy.
The wrap is designed to deliver these therapies to specific parts of the back and spine where they will have the most impact. For example, heat and far-infrared therapy are delivered across the entire lower back. Vibration therapy targets muscles, and near-infrared LED light therapy is concentrated down the lower lumbar spine.
Let’s dive into how each of these therapies addresses lower back pain.
The science behind ThermBack LED’s 4 therapies
Each therapy included in ThermBack LED stimulates a physiological response to reduce pain in a unique way. When combined, these therapies work together to relieve lower back pain, improve mobility, reduce stiffness, and speed up the recovery process more effectively than a single therapy (typically, heat) alone.
· Heat: Heat comfortably warms the skin and surface-level muscles. It dilates blood vessels in the area, which improves blood flow to the treatment site. This increase in blood flow relaxes tense muscles — lessening pain. [2] Overall, it helps reduce soreness and stiffness, improve mobility, and accelerate recovery. [3] Researchers of a study published in 2021 found that early treatment of mild, acute back pain with heat helped keep the pain from progressing to a chronic, persistent issue. [4] There are three heat with infrared levels included in ThermBack LED: Low, Medium & High (102°F, 107°F & 113°F).
· Far-infrared therapy: While heat therapy is pretty surface level (it warms the areas it’s touching), far-infrared light penetrates deeper to increase circulation, reduce inflammation, and promote healing at the cellular level. Altogether, research shows that these mechanisms help reduce chronic back pain by relaxing tight muscles. [5] Heat and far-infrared light therapy are more effective when used simultaneously, and the ThermBack LED always delivers them together.
· Vibration therapy: Vibration therapy applies soft, oscillating pressure to tight muscles (moving the tightness out of them). Targeted vibration therapy increases blood flow to a treatment area — delivering more oxygen to the site to support muscle health and recovery. [6] The low back is a sensitive area, and vibration therapy is a gentle treatment option to target those muscles. Remember: The vibration sensors are positioned in the ThermBack LED to reach the most bothersome back muscles. You can choose between three vibration patterns: Low, High, and Wave, depending on your preference.
· Near-infrared LED light therapy: Near-infrared light penetrates deep into the muscles and joints to reduce inflammation and speed up the body’s natural healing process. [7] The fluence target in one 20-minute session is 10-12 J/cm2 of energy generated across the entire device. Learn more about LED light therapy, including how to calculate therapeutic dosages of light, here.
Discover ThermBack LED
Who can benefit from ThermBack LED?
ThermBack LED is for anyone who experiences back pain or for those with minor injuries (like muscle tweaks, sprains, and strains).
While the likelihood of back pain increases with age, it impacts just about everyone at some point. [8] In fact, many people experience their first low back pain episode between the ages of 30 and 50. [9]
People in this age range balance a lot. They stay active and prioritize fitness. They may be chasing children through the house (and bending over constantly to pick things up). And they have physically straining jobs, including working in healthcare, retail, and even sedentary desk jobs.
But no matter your age, anyone who experiences some discomfort with lifting and bending, worsening pain when sitting or standing for too long, stiffness when waking in the morning, or soreness from exercise would benefit from the 4 therapies provided by ThermBack LED.
When to use ThermBack LED
ThermBack LED is a cordless wrap — so you never have to be tethered to a wall while using it. It can be worn comfortably over or under clothes (and is more effective when worn directly on the skin). Connecting your device to the Therabody app lets you select from scientifically curated treatment options, or you can customize it to your preferences. Treatment sessions last between 10 and 20 minutes (and are dependent on the dosage of each therapy type that provides therapeutic benefit), so it’s convenient to fit a session into your day.
· Use it as your desk: If you’re someone who spends their day in front of a computer (and has some back discomfort from doing so), you can wear ThermBack LED at your desk — sitting or standing.
· Wear it around the house: Wear it as you move through your everyday routine. Whether you’re cooking, cleaning, or caring for loved ones, ThermBack LED provides relief without restricting your movement.
· Wear it while commuting: Whether you're driving to work or school, taking the train, or even flying, ThermBack LED is a convenient travel companion. You may even arrive at your destination in a better mood.
· Lean on it for a pre-exercise warm-up: ThermBack LED gently loosens lower back stiffness, preparing muscles for physical activity. Wear it for a light walking warm-up, a pre-workout stretch, or before engaging in activity with large rotational movements like golf and tennis.
· Make it part of your recovery routine: ThermBack LED eases back pain and enhances recovery after intense exercise — like weightlifting — so you can get back to the gym faster and more confidently.
· Add it to your nighttime routine: Whether your wind-down rituals include reading in bed or relaxing on the couch, you can wear ThermBack LED for some much-needed relief from the day. Plus, the warmth and vibrations can actually help encourage sleep.
Discover ThermBack LED
Learn more about the modalities in ThermBack LED
Key takeaways
· ThermBack LED is the most advanced therapeutic back wrap on the market — acting as a 4-in-1 treatment.
· Heat, far-infrared, vibration, and near-infrared light work together to provide fast and effective relief for lower back pain.
· Effortlessly customize your treatment from the built-in control panel to fit your specific needs and connect to the Therabody app for even more treatment settings.
· If you’re someone who experiences occasional or chronic back pain, ThermBack LED is the solution you’ve been looking for.
References:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538173/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25526231/
3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7492448/
4. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/8/780
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16960636/
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37752526/
7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16960636/
8. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/low-back-pain
9. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/pain
