All living well guides
Care at home
Heat Therapy
Heat relaxes stiff muscles and joints and is especially helpful in the morning.
Video lesson
Why it matters
Warmth increases blood flow and eases stiffness from osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and chronic back pain.
What you can do
Use a warm shower, heating pad on low or warm moist towel for 15 to 20 minutes. Paraffin wax baths help stiff hands. Always keep a layer between skin and the heat source.
Call your care team if
A joint is red, hot and swollen. Heat can worsen acute inflammation, so use cold instead.
At a glance
Topic
Care at home
Reviewed by Farhan Tahir, MD, FACR
Questions about your own care?
Book an in-person or telehealth consultation with Dr. Tahir.
For education only. Don’t start, stop or change a medicine without talking to your care team.