Battle of the Medicine Cabinet Treatments: Ice Vs. Heat
September 19, 2013
A common question I get in my practice is whether it is better to use ice or heat when treating an injury. The simple answer is that both ice and heat can be beneficial in treating an injury at different times. But determining which one to use can prove quite confusing. Following are my top-line guidelines:
- Ice is generally used after an initial injury to help prevent inflammation, swelling and pain. It can also be used to treat a “flare up” of an older injury following physical activity. Ice cools the injured muscle and tissue by limiting blood flow and provides a direct numbing effect to sensitive nerves.
- Heat – in the form of a heating pad, warm towel, or hot shower or bath – is best used to treat older injuries that have begun to heal. Since heat improves blood flow to an area, it is used to “soften up” sore, stiff muscles or joints and “warm up” the injured area prior to exercise or activity.
As a general rule-of-thumb, consider applying heat before exercise to encourage blood flow, thereby allowing the injured area to move more freely. Following exercise, use ice to treat any swelling or irritation the activity may have caused.
Hi my family member! I want to say that this post is awesome, great written and come with approximately all significant infos. I¡¦d like to peer extra posts like this .
I have recently started a site, the info you provide on this web site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work.
Useful info. Lucky me I found your web site by chance, and I’m shocked why this coincidence did not happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
Wow! Thank you! I continually wanted to write on my site something like that. Can I take a fragment of your post to my website?
bonjour I love Your Blog can not say I come here often but im liking what i c so far….
I loved your idea there, I tell you blogs are so exciting sometimes like looking into people’s private life’s and work. Every new remark wonderful in its own right.
Hello.This post was extremely fascinating, particularly because I was looking for thoughts on this matter last week.
I’m now not positive the place olpsostty you’re getting your information, however great topic. I must spend some time studying more or understanding more. Thank you for magnificent info I used to be in search of this information for my mission.
Thank you a lot for giving everyone an extremely brilliant possiblity to read from this site. It can be so ideal plus full of a great time for me personally and my office co-workers to search your blog more than three times per week to read through the new guides you have got. Not to mention, I’m certainly fulfilled concerning the cool knowledge you serve. Certain 4 areas in this article are particularly the most beneficial I’ve ever had.
Just a quick note to express my appreciation. Take care
Lovely just what I was looking for. Thanks to the author for taking his clock time on this one.
Wonderful goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too magnificent. I really like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you are saying and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it wise. I cant wait to read far more from you. This is really a wonderful website.
Enjoyed reading through this, very good stuff, regards . “The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.” by Archilocus.
Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve visited this website before but after browsing through a few of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I stumbled upon it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back regularly!
Hey. Cool article. There’s a dilemma along with your website in chrome, and you could want to check this… The browser will be the market leader and a huge component of other people will omit your wonderful writing because of this difficulty.