Ice Then Heat Or Heat Then Ice

Ice for 15 minutes max then 30 minutes without.

Ice is a great choice for the first 72 hours after an injury because it helps reduce swelling which causes pain. Heat on the other hand helps soothe stiff joints and relax muscles. Determining whether you need heat or ice for an injury can difficult if you are not schooled in the science behind heat and cold ice and how they affect the body. Use ice cold for actual injuries swelling redness or.

Do this up to 4 times a day as needed. Ice can aggravate symptoms of tightness and stiffness. Generally speaking ice therapy is more appropriate for new injuries like sprains and strains whereas heat therapy is typically better for treating chronic conditions. Ice helps minimize swelling.

However neither option should be used for more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time when to use ice. Place the ice pack on a cloth barrier between the pack and skin moving the pack continually. While heat helps improve circulation and blood flow ice reduces blood flow thereby reducing inflammation and swelling. To achieve therapeutic results you must do this in a very specific way.

RELATED ARTICLE :

• if u give a moose a muffin
• if you don t pay my bills
• if we listen to each other s hearts

Use ice after an acute injury. In some cases both ice therapy and heat therapy can play a crucial role in the rehabilitation process. Use heat before activities to loosen muscles and joints and relax injured tissue. Ideally you should always apply ice within 1 hour of the ache pain and soreness setting in like after a workout.

Heat can make inflammation significantly worse. Use heat for sore muscles chronic pain and stress. Remember to elevate it as well. For up to 2 days max.

If you still need pain relief then switch to heat below. Combine ice and heat use a combination of ice and heat about 48 hours after an injury. As a more advanced treatment use ice and heat. It can also just make any pain worse when it s unwanted.

Ice first to bring down swelling and take away the pain then heat to soothe it and loosen it up. What ice and heat are not for both ice and heat have the potential to do some minor temporary harm when used poorly. The key is to ice for 20 minutes causing the vessels to narrow and then heat for 15 minutes causing the vessels to dilate. Either alternate cold and hot packs for 10 minutes or try a contrast bath.

RELATED ARTICLE :

• i feel like i m the man
• i don t want to say goodbye
• i feel like i have no one

Use ice after activity if you have a chronic condition that is prone to inflammation. Ice heat together. Ice helps reduce inflammation and numb pain whereas heat helps relax muscles and stiff joints. When to use heat and when to use cold or ice.