"Should I use ice or heat for my injury?” This is a question we often encounter in our clinic. Let’s explore which approach is best suitable to maximize benefits.
Cold therapy or cryotherapy work by reducing bloodflow to the area. This can help reduce swelling and inflammation at the region thus helping to reduce pain. Secondly, cold also numbs the surrounding nerve endings, helping to reduce pain temporarily.
Cryotherapy is shown to be beneficial in managing inflammation and is most effective within 24-72 hours after the initial injury.
Heat therapy, on the other hand, works on increasing blood flow to the area. The increased in blood flow can help with:
Heat therapy is usually recommended for chronic pain or 72 hours after acute injury.
As we can see, both therapies can achieve natural pain relieve and help to accelerate the recovery process. As a general rule of thumb, ice works the best when it comes to fresh acute injury and heat is effective for reducing stiffness and spasm in long term injury.
Cryotherapy is shown to be beneficial in managing inflammation and is most effective within 24-72 hours after the initial injury.
Heat therapy, on the other hand, works on increasing blood flow to the area. The increased in blood flow can help with:
- Improving healing and recovery.
- Reducing stiffness, spasm and pain.
- Improving flexibility of soft tissues.
Heat therapy is usually recommended for chronic pain or 72 hours after acute injury.
As we can see, both therapies can achieve natural pain relieve and help to accelerate the recovery process. As a general rule of thumb, ice works the best when it comes to fresh acute injury and heat is effective for reducing stiffness and spasm in long term injury.
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