Lower back pain is a chronic disorder that affects millions of us at some stage of our lives. Estimates [1] suggest that around 20% of the population suffers from the condition, with the cost to the UK economy reaching £20 billion and the cost to the NHS £5 billion [2].

There are a number of different treatment strategies for lower back pain, depending on the origin of the pain and the cause of symptoms. Common approaches include manual therapy (physiotherapy, Osteopathy, Chiropractic), pharmacological approaches (pain killers/anti-inflammatory meds), strength training/flexibility therapy/Pilates, and in extreme cases, surgery.

The vast majority of back pain cases are temporary, lasting anywhere from a few days to a few weeks and can be managed at home by the patient. If this describes your pain, the KYMIRA sport products can provide effective lower back pain management. This is thanks to the unique properties of our KYnergy infrared fabric.

In this article we’ll explain exactly how the KYMIRA sport products can help your lower back pain and the science behind how and why that happens.

The clearest evidence showing that infrared technology helps lower back pain can be found in a 2006 study [3] where 40 lower back pain patients engaged in research to see if infrared was effective in relieving their symptoms. The group was split into two, with one group treated with infrared and the other group receiving a placebo treatment.

Those treated with the infrared reported their pain dropping from a 7 out of 10 to a 3 out of 10. The placebo group reported a drop of 7.4 to 6.

The use of infrared technology is widespread in sport, with athletes across a wide variety of disciplines using the approach to aid their training and their post-event recovery. The mechanisms by which infrared helps athletes are the same ones that help pain management and injury recovery.

When you wear infrared clothing, our bodies increase the production of a chemical called Nitric Oxide, which in turn activates a chemical called Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (cGMP), which is shown to be an important element in the monitoring and reduction of pain [4].

Importantly, this is the same chemical that is activated when we take an opiate painkiller such as Morphine, Codeine, Fentanyl [5] etc, so wearing infrared clothing will have a mild analgesic affect. Whilst we can’t claim it’s a strong painkiller, it’s certainly noticeable and will help to relieve low-level discomfort.

But that’s not the only way infrared helps to relieve lower back pain.

One of the common issues with back pain is when the muscles go into a painful spasm, reducing movement and ultimately making the back stiff.

By wearing infrared clothing and stimulating the release of Nitric Oxide, we help to improve blood flow to areas covered by the infrared fabrics. This process occurs because NO is a vasodilator, meaning it opens the blood vessels and increases blood flow. By improving blood flow to stiff or sore tissues we improve mobility, flexibility and reduce the pain.

There’s strong evidence as well that infrared fabrics can have an anti-inflammatory effect. In a study conducted on football players, their post-exercise soreness was reduced and there was evidence that inflammation was also significantly impacted [6].

Not only was there evidence of anti-inflammatory properties found, there was also an explanation for how this happened, linking infrared fabrics to the reduction of free-radical production and a down-regulation of inflammatory mediators. When these two factors are combined, they help the wearer to reduce their consumption of oral anti-inflammatory medications, which can have an adverse effect on some people who take them.

In mild to moderate cases of lower back pain, KYMIRA products can be the logical go-to for the management of the issue for a number of reasons.

• Unlike medications, there’s no side effects whatsoever. No allergies, no rejection, no nausea, rashes or the like.
• There are no dosage requirements – you’re wearing clothes. You can even sleep in KYMIRA clothing if you want to.
• The effects don’t wear off – KYMIRA clothing is effective as long as you’re wearing it. The effect doesn’t diminish as the day goes on.
• KYMIRA is convenient – all you need to do is wear it. You don’t have to follow a dose schedule or anything. Put it on and get on with your day.

KYMIRA is used by everyone from top level athletes to chronic pain patients. Our technology is used and trusted by people all over the globe, including a network of clinical partners – physiotherapists who use KYMIRA to help their patients recover faster and more effectively.

If you are suffering from lower back pain, take a look at our range and see how our products can help you.

KYMIRA Sport