To Ice or to Heat- That is the question!

Working in a chiropractic office, I see lots of different types of injuries with my patients whether brought on by sports or everyday activities. The most common question I get from a patient following an injury is whether to use ice or heat. Often times, they will come in with an injury that happened over the weekend and were for example they were using heat when ice should have been applied instead. It may not seem like a big deal, but can make a huge difference in the healing process. The best way to understand whether heat or ice should be used is to understand how your body reacts to an injury. Knowing the difference between an acute injury and a chronic condition helps determine what will be the best course of treatment.

An acute injury is one that just recently happened and is usually short term. Some examples include ankle sprain, back strain, pain after extreme exercising, and other joint sprains. These often involve tissue and blood vessel damage. Because of this damage, inflammation or swelling usually occurs. Applying something cold like ice, causes the blood vessels to constrict or get smaller which will decrease swelling. Heat on the other hand causes blood vessels to dilate or get bigger, which would increase swelling. People tend to use heat initially because it feels soothing to the injury as opposed to ice, which can be uncomfortable for a while.
Tips for Icing

With any injury, it is important to respond quickly and take action. The faster you get ice on the area, the less inflammation is likely to occur which will result in a quicker healing time. When icing, it is important to remember not to put the ice directly on the skin and limit to 20-minute increments. Leaving ice on too long or putting it directly on the skin can cause skin irritation and possible tissue damage. Always have a cloth or towel between your skin and the ice. With an acute injury, you will want to continue to ice for 24-48 hours following the injury as this is when most of the swelling will occur. An easy way to remember when to use ice is if it is swelling, ice is your best bet.

Tips for Heat

Chronic conditions are those injuries or problems that have been present for a while and have not fully healed. Some chronic conditions include arthritis, stiff joints, and old joint sprains most commonly being ankle sprains. Heat allows our muscles to relax and this is why it has a soothing affect unlike ice. Heat also increases circulation and tissue elasticity, which provides pain relief. Heat can be applied with a hot towel, heat pack, or hot shower. As mentioned with applying ice, precautions need to be taken with heat. Heat should be done in 20-minute increments and never directly on the skin.

If you have a new injury or experiencing pain from an old injury and are in doubt, contact your doctor with questions.

About The Author

3 Responses

  1. FalknekOptipt

    Tumor markers are typically measured using immunoassays and reference intervals are methodology specifc. Single mother and father are prone to have less time The conventional family consists of a married mom and father for a social life or different actions, which may improve their and their biologic youngsters. Common fatigue-associated drugs embrace narcotics, psychotropics, antihypertensives, and antihistamines blood pressure healthy vs unhealthy [url=https://insicongress.com/sale/micardis.html]buy micardis pills in toronto[/url].
    Researchers learned that these patients develop a very aggressive type of sort 2 papillary kidney most cancers. This may be divided in three ways: 1) resting posture, 2) passive tone, 3) energetic tone. If you possibly can learn to try this youll never have a problem with guilt and condemnation again medications zyprexa [url=https://insicongress.com/sale/thorazine.html]buy thorazine 50 mg lowest price[/url]. Many discover that with the ability to discuss these worries with out upsetting the opposite individual, and being listened to without feeling judged, can feel like a ‘weight off their shoulders’. Medical Care for the treatment of a Mental Illness or Substance Use Disorder is eligible when rendered by a Behavioral Health Practitioner working within the scope of their license. To achieve this, a number of splits are releasing the posterior compartment alongside the entire length made in the fascia, alongside the size of the muscle medications with aspirin [url=https://insicongress.com/sale/rumalaya.html]purchase rumalaya toronto[/url]. Diagnosis of prediabetes is made when an individual meets a number of of the next criteria: • A1c 5. As a basic rule, a single cartridge is adequate for lengthen the duration of surgery. Abnormalities (congenital or acquired) in size, form, or form of the auricles, canals, or tympanic membranes must be noted, evaluated, and recorded mens health weight loss [url=https://insicongress.com/sale/pilex.html]generic pilex 60 caps[/url]. In addition, some sufferers not operated upon had an unexplained improvement in symp- toms. Any illness which Increased respiratory fee, indrawing of the interferes with vibration of the vocal cords, larynx and trachea into the mediastinum, and approximation of the vocal cords or their recession of the intercostal areas and actions produces a change in voice. Data instructed that olanzapine pamoate was related to dose-dependent weight achieve, lipid and glucose metabolism issues, and may increase prolactin levels even at low doses medicine wheel teachings [url=https://insicongress.com/sale/keppra.html]keppra 250 mg purchase with amex[/url].

    Reply
  2. Peraturgug

    During his stay within the hospital he by no means exhibited any impulsive or disruptive conduct. Gastroenterology 146:453460 Missiaglia E, Dalai I, Barbi S, Beghelli S, Falconi M, della Peruta M, Piemonti L, Capurso G, Di Florio Page 22 of 31 Downloaded from molecularcasestudies. Perineural invasion is commonly current and is diagnostic However, excessive consumption of alcohol or espresso, and of malignancy countries with high hiv infection rates [url=https://mopmr.gov.so/pharm/medex.html]generic medex 1 mg on-line[/url].
    Bradyarrhythmias end result from a number of mechanisms, together with conduc tion abnormalities due to structural aberrations of the conduction sys tem, conduction abnormalities because of antibodies directed against the conduction system, and, not often, on account of fetal misery. Nevertheless, speciп¬Ѓc strategies to forestall or deal with signs, and affected person regurgitationfrequencywasaddressedasaprimaryoutcomeinthe empowerment, might help enhance mother or father understanding of the examine. Points to Remember • Anabolic steroids are artificial variations of the male intercourse hormone testosterone asthmatic bronchitis effects [url=https://mopmr.gov.so/pharm/advair-diskus.html]advair diskus 100 mcg buy low price[/url]. Upper motor Suggested by: deviation of tongue to reverse aspect of neurone lesion on protrusion. There are additionally two buildings called the “otoliths” which inform your mind when your head is transferring in a straight line and point out the position of your head in respect of the pull of gravity. As already acknowledged, immune complex formation is prevented in situations of antigen excess or antibody excess erectile dysfunction cream [url=https://mopmr.gov.so/pharm/tadapox.html]purchase tadapox 80 mg without prescription[/url]. Axis V: Etiology * To be coded for psychiatric sickness with none rele- Genetic or congenital problems. This If there are indicators of shock (see page 21 and Table 7): indicators uterine or bowel perforation. Megaproject: A group of activities that, within the local area or at a nationwide level, create direct environmental, economic, social and/or cultural harm arrhythmia ekg [url=https://mopmr.gov.so/pharm/toprol-xl.html]toprol xl 25 mg purchase otc[/url]. Subsequently, mitral insuff ciency is related to a point of mitral stenosis. In this regard, latest discussions concerning the autoimmune effect of mercury aren’t solely, or even mainly, involved with the risk of inducing de novo autoimmune circumstances, but additional the chance that mercury may accelerate or aggravate spontaneously occurring systemic autoimmune conditions (Havarinasab et al. However, some over-the-counter medicines assist to relieve brief time period fevers and nasal congestion mild gastritis symptoms treatment [url=https://mopmr.gov.so/pharm/motilium.html]effective 10 mg motilium[/url].

    Reply
  3. GarikNaign

    This presents as пїЅantepartum haemorrhageпїЅ and is of two main sorts: with little or no external loss, but ache and indicators of hypovolaemic 1. Additional levels of organization result in the ultimate chromosomal structure (Figure 29. Improving the rule of thumb) effectivity of supply of thrombolysis for acute stroke: a scientific review gastritis or gallbladder [url=https://mopmr.gov.so/pharm/motilium.html]cheap motilium 10 mg line[/url].
    Since these reactions depend upon the migration of cells to the positioning of the response or local cell proliferation, they appear comparatively slowly (requiring two to 4 days) and are referred to as delayed hypersensitivity reactions. This is how melatonin works to spice up the immune system and allow the body to defeat cancer: There is a melatonin receptor on a key cell of the immune system known as a helper T-cell 79. Use code ninety nine for websites or morphologies for which details about the field is unknown or not applicable: Examples: Brain Intracranial Gland Reticuloendotheliosis 445 Texas Cancer Registry 2018/2019 Cancer Reporting Handbook Version 1 blood pressure medication used for hot flashes [url=https://mopmr.gov.so/pharm/toprol-xl.html]25 mg toprol xl purchase with visa[/url]. Vaptans bind to vasopressin sort 1 (V1) or type 2 (V2) receptors; V2 receptors are expressed within the renal accumulating duct cells. Abdominal ache, distension, guarding, rigidity, altered bowel sounds, alteration of bowel habits. Generally, autoclave or incinerate infectious waste before disposing of it in a sanitary landfill hiv symptoms time after infection [url=https://mopmr.gov.so/pharm/medex.html]order medex online now[/url]. The stage adopted is such as to ensure, as far as potential, that every group is more or less homogeneous in respect of survival, and that the survival rates of those teams for each cancer website are distinctive. This acts on the kidneys to reabsorb sodium and water into the bloodstream, and to secrete potassium into the urine. Evaluations are sometimes carried out at particular time intervals (for instance, on the finish of the yr), whereas monitoring happens on a daily, month-to-month, and quarterly foundation erectile dysfunction drugs singapore [url=https://mopmr.gov.so/pharm/tadapox.html]cheap 80 mg tadapox with visa[/url].
    A predictive scientific software, using kidney illness stage and prognosis, danger elements, and/ or other variables, ought to be developed to higher predict threat in sufferers with chronic kidney illness. A very strong argument sure in adolescent rats also induced fast and long-lasting could be made in regards to the association between adolescent expodendritic remodeling within the nucleus accumbens shell, a certain to nicotine by smoking standard cigarettes and critical component of reward studying and habit, via the next onset of using other dependence-producing a D1 dopamine receptor-mediated mechanism (Ehlinger substances. These findings collectively favor a mechanism of de novo radiation exposure (Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network, 2014) asthma treatment for children [url=https://mopmr.gov.so/pharm/advair-diskus.html]order advair diskus 500 mcg with mastercard[/url].

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.