Should I Ice or Heat an Injury?

Ice packs and heat pads are among the most commonly used treatments in orthopedics. So which one is the right one to use for your injury, ice or heat? And how long should the ice or heat treatments last?

Ice Treatment
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 an ice treatment. Ice packs can help minimize swelling around the injury, reduce bleeding into the tissues, and reduce muscle spasms and pain.

Ice packs are often used after injuries such as an ankle sprain. Applying an ice pack early and often for the first 48 hours will help minimize swelling. Doing so will help to control the pain.

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. Avoid icing a chronic injury before activity.

You can make ice packs with ice cubes in a plastic bag or wrap them in a towel; a pack of frozen peas is also ideal and can go in and out of the freezer. When applying ice directly onto an injury, keep the pack moving to avoid ice burns. Remove the pack immediately if the injury appears bright pink or red.

Avoid using ice packs around the front or side of the neck.

Heat Treatment
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, and do not use heat after an acute injury. Do not use heat where swelling is involved—swelling is caused by bleeding in the tissue and heat just causes more blood to come to the area.

Heating tissues can be accomplished using a heating pad, or even a hot, wet towel. When using heat treatments, be very careful to use a moderate heat for a limited time to avoid burns. Never leave heating pads or towels on for extended periods of time or while sleeping.

Other Precautions
Don’t use cold or heat packs:

• over areas of skin that are in poor condition
• over areas of skin with poor sensation to heat or cold
• over areas of the body with known poor circulation
• without discussing with your doctor the safe use of ice and heat, especially for those with diabetes
• in the presence of infection

If you are dealing with an old or current injury and it is not responding to home treatments, call the specialists at Orthopedic Associates of Port Huron at (810) 985-4900