Have you been having pain and curious of whether to use ice or heat? Here are some simple guidelines to follow to discover which treatment is better suited for you!
Ice Treatment
- Ice treatment is most commonly used for acute injuries. If you have a recent injury where swelling is a problem, you should be using ice treatment. Ice packs can help minimize swelling around the injury.
- Ice treatments may also be used for chronic conditions, such as overuse injuries in athletes. In this case, ice the injured area after activity to help control inflammation. Never ice a chronic injury before activity.
- The amount of time you should ice is between 12-20 minutes. Too much ice can be harmful.
Heat Treatment
- 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 overuse injuries, before participating in activities.
- Heating tissues can be accomplished using a heating pad, or even a hot, wet towel.
- The amount of time to heat should be no longer than 20 minutes and NEVER while sleeping!
The Benefits of icing
- Pain relief, relief of strains or sprains, tendonitis, bursitis, arthritis and muscle soreness.
The Benefits of Heating
- Help relieve muscle spasms and cramps
- Relieve joint pain in arthritics and help improve mobility
Any further questions about applying ice vs heat, refer to this link.