November 04, To ease that pain, is it better to use ice or heat? What is Inflammation? Does heat make inflammation worse? About Applying Heat Heat does have its role. Rules to Remember: If an injury has occurred to any body part within three days, ice is preferred -- 20 minutes on and 30 to 40 minutes off. Pain to the back, neck and large muscle groups like quads, hamstrings and calves will respond well to heat after three days of injury.
Use ice for pain in joints such as knees, elbows and shoulders. Keep It Local Do not apply ice or heat to large areas of the body if only one joint or body part is the focus.
Comments October 20, My chiro advised icing and applying ice then heat. Thank you for the great explanation. October 15, You have explained the use of ice and heat, singly and in combination better than a number of sites I read before finding you.
A much appreciated and magnificent job. Thank you heartedly. September 28, Most informative and very helpful. Thank you soo much. June 29, Thanks very much I learn the difference between ice and heat for pain. Reply From: OrthoCarolina. June 29, This was great! I now have a very clear understanding on how to treat my injuries, thank you so much!
May 02, I am very thankful that I found this article! I've had knee replacement surgery and suffered a lot of pain. I was told by therapist that icing was my best friend, but what I didn't know was that 20 minutes on and 30 to 40 minutes off is the best cycle of using ice. I tried it and it worked much better!
Thank you for the knowledge! March 20, Thank you for letting me know in plain language about the icing and the Heat I was always getting confused about the two.
March 15, Thank you so much for clearing up the confusion I have had on icing and heat for my back. You explained this so clearly!! December 23, Interesting read, thanks! August 28, Thank you so much,this is very details,I only use heat method before but now I will try the heat and ice method on my clients that has Arthritis.
If desired, the volleyball player mentioned earlier could ice the injured ankle after every practice and game to alleviate potential soreness. Icing isn't limited to an ice pack or frozen bag of peas. Different types of ice treatment will cater to different types of pain, including:. Heat treatment is never done for a sudden injury, such as a collision on the court or a bike crash.
Heat is typically used during the recovery process. Heating the injury immediately after it happens may cause further damage. Heating a sore or injured muscle increases blood flow and metabolic activity which leads to a loosening of muscle tissue. Warming an injured area relaxes stiffness and relieves pain in aching joints, such as those affected by arthritis. Regularly heating before a practice or game can also help with avoiding stiffness as warm-ups transition into performance.
This will also loosen up the muscles to avoid injury or soreness. For example, heating a shoulder prior to and while pitching in a baseball game may help contribute to a longer time spent on the mound. Heating pads are the most common form of heat treatment, but there are a few methods you can use depending on what kind of heat you need. Directions: Fill the plastic freezer bag with 1 cup of rubbing alcohol or 1 cup dish soap.
Heat treatments should be used for chronic conditions to help relax and loosen tissues and to stimulate blood flow to the area. Use heat treatments for conditions such as overuse injuries before participating in activities.
Do not use heat treatments after activity, and do not use heat after an acute injury. Never use heat where swelling is involved because swelling is caused by bleeding in the tissue, and heat just draws more blood to the area. Heating tissues can be accomplished using a heating pad, or even a hot, wet towel. When using heat treatments, be very careful to use a moderate heat for a limited time to avoid burns. Never leave heating pads or towels on for extended periods of time or while sleeping.
If you have questions regarding the proper treatment of an injury, call the doctors or physical therapists at Southern California Orthopedic Institute today at Skip to main content.
Should You Ice or Heat an injury? Ice Treatment Ice treatment is most commonly used for acute injuries.
0コメント