Following a successful trial in their emergency department, The Royal Melbourne Hospital is now using FlexEze Heat Wraps.

Latest research demonstrates the use of heat wraps, movement, education, reassurance and simple analgesia can significantly reduce the prescription of strong pain medication in back pain patients presenting to emergency departments.

Health practitioners are aware of the impact back pain has upon their patients, the disability and suffering it causes and the issues surrounding pain management. Low back pain is one of the most common presentations seen by physiotherapists and osteopaths.

Treatment guidelines published by the World Health Organisation, American College of Physicians (ACP) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) all reflect a shift towards non-pharmacological interventions as a first line treatment in low back pain.

As the evidence-base supporting the use of heat grows, an awareness of guidelines and how to best use non-pharmacological interventions for back pain is important to improve clinical outcomes. Heat is now recommended in multiple guidelines and widely used by physiotherapists and osteopaths, often as an adjunct to manual therapies.

A major advantage of heat wraps is they enable patients to keep moving, a fundamental principle in physiotherapy to promote recovery.

FlexEze heat wraps are now regularly used in major Australian hospitals such as the Royal Prince Alfred, Austin, Cabrini, Concord, Canterbury among many others.

We are committed to contributing to research as partners to the Australian Physiotherapy Association - Physiotherapy Research Foundation and are currently engaged in three clinical research projects.

FlexEze Heat Wraps and Hand Warmers are an APA endorsed product - the natural evidence-based choice for physiotherapists.

For training materials, research literature and information please email peter@flexeze.com.au

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Read the systematic review here:
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2021/10/21/bjsports-2020-103596

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Researchers and clinicians from the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney and Sydney Local Health District conducted a randomised trial across four NSW emergency departments including Royal Prince Alfred, Canterbury, Concord and Dubbo hospitals.

The study involved training 269 ED clinicians on best practice guidelines in assessing and managing patients with acute back pain which included providing alternatives to prescription pain killers such as Heat Wraps and cheaper anti-inflammatory medicines.

Of the 4625 episodes of care (4491 patients), researchers found a reduction in prescription pain killers without adverse patient outcomes and improved clinicians beliefs and knowledge about low back pain care.

FlexEze supplied the Heat wraps used in this Australian hospital trial. The obvious benefit of Heat wraps over other heat therapy products is that they provide continuous low level heat whilst enabling movement in patients to promote recovery from acute back pain. The adverse effects of prescription pain killers has created a dependency issue with overuse and now are not recommended as a first line treatment for back pain in many treatment guidelines.

FlexEze Heat Wraps generate heat as a result of a simple non-toxic chemical reaction that is air-activated. FlexEze Heat wraps deliver a sustained temperature above 40 degrees for approximately 8-12 hours, which is around 20 times longer than wheat bags or hot water bottles.

FlexEze Heat wraps are lightweight, comfortable and provide portability with minimal disruption to daily routine. FlexEze are also eco-friendly as ingredients are biodegradable and can be dispose into the garden as a soil improver.

This new research demonstrates the use of Heat wraps, movement, education, reassurance and simple analgesia can significantly reduce the prescription of strong pain killer medications in back pain patients presenting to emergency departments at Australian hospitals.

For more information and to read the entire research paper please visit https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/early/2021/03/08/bmjqs-2020-012337

Coombs DM, Machado GC, Richards B, et alEffectiveness of a multifaceted intervention to improve emergency department care of low back pain: a stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised trialBMJ Quality & Safety  Published Online First: 10 March 2021. doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2020-012337