Ice or Heat?
Ice packs and heat pads are commonly used to treat orthopedic injuries. So which one is the right one for your injury – ice or heat? And how do they work differently?
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 use ice. Ice packs can help minimize swelling around the injury, reduce bleeding into the tissues, and reduce muscle spasm and pain. Ice packs are often used for injuries, such as ankle sprains.
Ice treatments may also be used for chronic conditions, such as overuse injuries in athletes. In this case, ice the injured area after activity to help control inflammation. Never ice a chronic injury before activity.
You can make ice packs with ice cubes in a plastic bag or wet hand towel; a pack of frozen peas is also ideal and can go in and out of the freezer.
Some things to keep in mind: Never treat with ice for more than 30 minutes, and remove the pack immediately if the injury appears bright pink or red; don’t use ice packs on the left shoulder if you have a heart condition; and don’t use ice packs around the front or side of the neck.
Heat
Heat treatments should be used for chronic conditions to help relax and loosen tissues, and to stimulate blood flow to the area. Use heat treatments for chronic conditions, such as overuse injuries, before participating in activities.
Do not use heat treatments after activity. Never use heat where swelling is involved – swelling is caused by bleeding in the tissue and heat just makes more blood come to the area.
Heating tissues can be accomplished using a heating pad, or even a hot, wet towel. When using heat treatments, be sure to use moderate heat for a limited time to avoid burns. Never leave heating pads or towels on for extended periods of time, or while sleeping.
Dr. Craig Smith, sports medicine physician with Orthopedic Institute, sees patients with sports and recreational injuries.
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- Ice or Heat?
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