WHEN TO USE ICE & HEAT FOR PAIN RELIEF
When you’ve just sprained your ankle or pulled a muscle, all you want is somepain relief. Ifpainkillersarehandy,youprobablypopacoupleof them. If not, you ask for some ice - or was that heat instead? To sort out this confusion, let’s see what they really do. Both ice and heat relieve pain and help recovery. How to use ice Ice is useful when you want to reduce swelling. For example, your ankle balloons up after a sprain. This is because blood and fluid collect rapidly, making it both painful and stiff. At this point, an ice pack helps to close off those tiny vessels. The blood flow slows down. Small nerves become numbed, so the pain reduces. The muscles also relax.The inflammatory reaction is slowed down. As a result, your ankle is less swollen and painful. Ice packs are very useful in bruises, strains and joint swellings. Use them for any acute swelling, over the first 24 to 48 hours (except back strains). Ice helps later too, while exercising the limb. Our friendly physiotherapists can show you how to make movements less painful and more flexible by using an ice pack just before or during exercise. How to make an ice pack Wrap a plastic bag of frozen peas or ice cubes in a thick cold wet towel. Place iton the injuredpart.Checkaftera fewminutes tomakesure theskin is not red, an early sign of frostbite. Generally, icing for 15 to 20 minutes is enough. Repeat every 2-4 hours. Our physiotherapists will help use ice properly for healing and pain relief. How to use heat Heatpacks,bottlesor infra-red lampscanbeveryuseful ifyouhaveamuscle spasm 48 hours after injury. Icing a muscle spasm contracts the muscle fibers, so they would hurt intensely. On the other hand, heat improves the circulation, soothes and relaxes the muscles by carrying away toxins and bringing inhealingoxygen.Heatcancomfortabackorneckstrain,especially if it has been persisting for some time. When you use a heat pack, wrap it in a towel and check the temperature so it doesn’t burn the skin. When not to use heat Don’t use heat if you have a painful, red or swollen joint. This increases circulation so that fluid collects, worsening the swelling and stretching or
compressing the nerves and surrounding healthy tissue.This makes it still more painful. You’d be better off icing it. When to use neither heat nor ice Whether you use hot or cold packs, be aware that you can damage your skin and deeper tissues by careless use. Don’t use it if you have an open or infected wound. If the circulation or sensation level is poor, as in diabetes, ice and heat could cause the skin to break down, get infected and worse. But in ordinary injuries, ice and heat provide inexpensive, non-toxic pain relief. Visit us for more help with using ice or heat. We’ll speed up your recovery and get you moving more easily.
SCHOMBERG LOCATION 6048 Highway 9, Suite 13 Schomberg, ON L0G 1T0 (905) 939-9041
CALEDON EAST LOCATION 15955 Airport Road, Suite 101 Caledon, ON L7C 1H9 (905) 584-6747
www.coresolutionsphysiotherapy.com
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