WhenTo Use Ice & Heat for Pain Relief
When you’ve just sprained your ankle or pulled a muscle, all you want is some pain relief. If painkillers are handy, you probably pop a couple of 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 numb, 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 therapists can show you how to make movements less painful and
more flexible by using an ice pack just before or during exercise.
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.
Prone on Elbows
Free Workshop - Shoulder Pain October 31, 2020 at 10:00AM
2400 South Blvd | Suite 203 - Charlotte, NC 28203
The Shoulder Pain Workshop is for people suffering with shoulder pain who are looking to feel normal again and heal naturally without medications, injections, and surgery. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this workshop is limited to the first 20 people to register. Call (980) 833-1293 to reserve your spot today!
Lie on your stomach with your hands beside your shoulders. Push with your arms up on to your elbows. Hold for 10 counts then return to start position. Repeat 8 times. This exercise helps loosen your lower back.
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