Heat or Ice?

7th Dec newsletter

Everyone has asked themselves this question at some stage, and it can be a difficult one to answer.
Here are a few general principles that can point you in the right direction, but it is not a replacement for professional qualified advice.

HEAT:
Heat treatments should be used for chronic conditions (been present for more than a few weeks) to help relax and loosen tissues and muscles, and to stimulate blood flow to the area. Use heat treatments for chronic conditions, such as overuse injuries, or before participating in activities.

Note: Use a proper heat pack, and ensure it will not burn your skin, Apply for no more than 20 minutes at a time, but you can repeat the heating with  a 10 minute break in between.

ICE:
Ice treatment is most commonly used for acute injuries. If you have a recent injury (within the last 48 hours) where swelling is a problem, you should be using ice treatment. Ice packs can help minimize swelling around the injury. The application of ice is useful in decreasing the process of inflammation, and numbing the site to give temporary pain relief.

Note: ice can also cause skin burns, so do not apply pack directly to the skin, wrap in a moist towel, and apply for 20 minutes and rest for 10 minutes before repeating the process.

At Sutherland Chiropractic we have Ice/Heat gel packs for sale and can advise you which to use on which condition.