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Heat or Cold?
Okay, so I'm confused when to use an ice pack or a heat pad if you:
Sprain something
Pull a muscle
Muscle ache
Cramp
Feet hurting from walking too much
From wearing heels
From uncomfortable shoes
AHH!! I just don't know when to put what..help?
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All those injuries can be helped with an ice pack and a heat pad. First, keep the ice on it for ten-fifteen minutes to bring down the swelling. And then apply the heat to relax the muscles.
The only thing that wouldn't need ice is cramps. Just heat can help that.
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Hi, this information should be very helpful.
WHEN TO USE AN ICE PACK…
Ice should be used within the first 72 hours after injury, whether you’ve suffered a muscle strain, sprain, bruise or tear.
If it’s a recent injury, and swelling exists.
Ice packs are more commonly used after injuries like ankle sprains and overuse injuries in athletes. To reduce bleeding into the tissues.
Never ice a chronic injury before an activity.
Icing after the activity will help control the inflammatory response.
Ice Treatments are more commonly used for acute injuries, reducing muscle spasms or pain by numbing the area and by limiting the effects of swelling, which can cause pain.
WHEN TO APPLY HEAT
When an injury is older than 48 hours, heat can be applied. Heat causes the blood vessels to dilate or open up, which brings more blood into that area. Heat has a direct soothing effect and can help relieve pain and spasm.
Heat treatments should be used for chronic conditions to help relax and loosen tissues, and to stimulate blood flow to that area.
Do not use heat on a new injury (for example soaking in a hot bath, using heat lamps, hot water bottles, deep heat creams, etc). These will increase bleeding and make the problem worse.
The rule is, don’t put heat on something that is swollen and warm…this will only increase these.
Apply heat to injuries before an activity.
Never apply heat after activities, and do not use heat after an acute injury.
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if it's swelling then you'd want to put ice or something cold on it because it will reduce swelling. because cold makes things contract.
if its a pulled muscle then use heat because it will loosen up the mucsle and make it more relaxed.
if you want a scientific explanation for my reasoning just ask haha.
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Sprain something- cold
Pull a muscle- heat
Muscle ache- heat
Cramp-heat deffinatly.
Feet hurting from walking too much- im pretty sure either
From uncomfortable shoes-both
Jess
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The general rule is that you should use ice in the first 24-48 hours after an injury, like a sprain, a tendon injury, or a pulled muscle. That will help reduce inflammation. After that, use whatever feels best. If it's not an injury, like it's a cramp, usually heat works best to relax the muscles and sooth the pain. Usually pain from wearing uncomfortable shoes or walking too much is best relieved with a hot water soak.
Hope it helped.
Sabine
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Pretty much what the columnist below me said. If something on your body is swollen, use ice (or cold water) to decrease the swelling. You use heat to relieve the pain (temporarily in most cases).
For spraining something, use cold;
When You pull a muscle, use heat;
Muscle aches, same as pulling a muscle, use heat;
Cramping, you use heat;
Feet hurting, you can use ice first, then heat;
Same as wearing heals or uncomforable shoes, putting your feet in cold water for awhile (reduce any swelling), then apply heat (warm/hot water) to it to relieve the pain.
I know this is a little off-topic but for convenience you can use Icy Hot®. It first cools to reduce swelling (contains menthol) and then it switches to the hot feeling, but I forget the main ingredient in that. It really works when you are on the go, rather than sitting down for a half hour, applying cold water, then an extra half hour to apply warm water to the area.
Hope I helped =]
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Anything swollen- Ice
Anything that just feels tight and aches- Heat
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Hey, I just looked this up online. I found this website which should definitely help. [Link](Mouse over link to see full location) It pretty much answers all of your questions about ice and heat so I really hope I helped! =)
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