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Use of Heat for the Self-Management of Non-Specific Neck Pain: A Systematic Review
Denise Wilfling1,2, Ahmad El-Allawy3, Cathleen Muche-Borowski4
1Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria.
Purpose:
This systematic review aimed to summarise the evidence on the effectiveness of heat therapy for the treatment of non-specific neck pain, one of the most frequently reported musculoskeletal conditions.
Materials And Methods:
This review followed established methodological guidelines for systematic reviews. A computerised literature search was conducted in Medline via PubMed in January 2025 using the key terms "neck pain" and "heat". Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomised controlled trials, and the quality of evidence was graded using the GRADE approach.
Results:
The database search identified 91 studies, of which only two met the inclusion criteria. A total of 67 participants were included. Both studies investigated dry heat therapy using heat wraps or heat cells. While reductions in neck pain and neck-related disability were reported, the evidence base was very limited due to the small number of included studies, small sample sizes, and low methodological quality of both studies.
Conclusion:
The current evidence regarding heat therapy for non-specific neck pain is highly limited and insufficient to support either a recommendation for or against its use. The available findings are based on only two small studies with considerable methodological limitations, substantially limiting confidence in the conclusions. Nevertheless, given the absence of expected serious adverse effects, heat application may still be considered as a self-management option for patients with non-specific neck pain.
