“When should I use ice, and when should I use heat”?
That could quite possibly be the most common question asked for all injuries. The answer may be different than you thought.
When you first have a tweak, strain, or pull, you should refrain from using ice or heat for the first 3-5 days. The inflammation that occurs is a natural healing process that brings more blood flow and repair mechanisms to the area. Ice would slow this process down, and heat would cause an overflow of fluid.
Once this window of time has passed, ice may be beneficial to reduce excessive swelling left over from repair and control pain levels. If you have a chronic condition of swelling and inflammation in a joint after an old surgery or injury, ice can also be useful.
Heat is beneficial for stiffness. If you feel you don’t have as much pain with a movement but need more mobility in an area, heat will increase blood flow and fluid, lubricating the joints and relaxing muscles to allow for smoother motion.
Pain associated with stiffness can also be present, making a combination of heat and ice useful. To tackle this problem, you would heat the area prior to movements and ice afterward to reduce any excessive swelling.
In the end, whether you use ice or heat depends on the situation.
For more advice and guidance through your aches and pains, call or text Dynamic today at 401-702-0293
