Timing of When To Use Heat or Ice On An Injury (Infographic) | Scott Malcolm | Dallas, TX

Timing of When To Use Heat or Ice On An Injury

** If you still have questions, please consult your doctor. **

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Cryotherapy | Scott Malcolm | Dallas, TX

Introduction on Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is the use of low temperatures to facilitate healing. This can range from a local application of ice packs to intentionally inducing hypothermia through special devices for cold therapy. When applied to the whole body, it can even cause the release of endorphins, which will provide additional pain-relief. Cryotherapy is commonly used to treat skin disorders (cryosurgery) and as a means to speed recovery after surgery (hilotherapy). Additionally, cold therapy is also being used to treat migraines and diseases for which you wouldn’t expect it, like abnormal growth inside the uterus. Finally, cold therapy has also found application in the field of fat loss for spot-reduction (cryolipolysis).

On this page we will focus on how cold therapy can be used to treat joint pain and injuries. More specifically, there are a number of factors you need to pay attention to when self-administering cold therapy and if you miss those, you will do more harm than good.

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Cold Temperature

The lower temperatures decrease swelling by lowering internal bleeding in injured joint. By keeping the swelling low and thereby restricting the number of cells in the injured area, you’re making sure that there is enough oxygen for all cells. Since the cold therapy also reduces cell metabolism, the need for oxygen is decreased even further. This is also why preventing excessive swelling is so important: by limiting the number of cells at the site it prevents unnecessary cell death that would occur due to lack of oxygen.

In summary, the purpose of cold therapy is to slow down the metabolism of the cells, thereby decreasing swelling, the need for oxygen, and unnecessary cell death. Additionally, the application of cold packs also decreases inflammation and pain.

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Cold Compression

Depending on where you injure yourself, rest, ice, and elevation may not be an option, but there’s always a way to apply pressure to a joint. For an ankle sprain in basketball this could be as simple as keeping that sneaker on and pulling the laces tight. Using a compression dressing is even better of course.

The only way you won’t have to make a trade-off between the icing and the compression is by using a professional ice pack. With home-made solutions you’ll decrease the cooling effect if you have the compressive wrap underneath the ice or you’ll compromise the compression, if you have the ice underneath the compressive wrap. This is far from ideal of course, but still better than nothing. Usage of a professional ice pack is much superior though.

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How Does Heat Ease Your Pain?

How Does Heat Ease Your Pain?

For centuries, heat has been used as a simple yet effective way to manage your pain and joint or muscular stiffness. Deep and penetrating heat not only relieves your pain but also enhances your recovery process.  

By applying a heat pack to your painful joints and muscles, the heat stimulates your sensory receptors to block the transmission of pain signals to the brain, resulting in an instant and effective pain relief.

Even if you are a chronic pain sufferer, heat packs can help relieve your discomfort - NOW and for many years ahead!

If you've been suffering with either stiffness or pain that feels better when you apply heat, have a warm relaxing bath or a hot shower. Alternatively, a microwave heat pack could be the best investment you'll make this year.

How Does Heat Actually Help You?

• By increasing tissue elasticity, heat reduces your resting muscle tension and helps to relax those nasty painful knots.
• Your pain is quickly eased via the sedation and soothing of any pain-irritated nerve endings.
• The deep heating effect increases your blood flow to the painful area, bringing more nutrients to the injured area while flushing out the injured debris. This helps to quicken your healing rate.
• The deep heat also promotes a speedier healing rate by stimulating your natural metabolic rate. In other words, there is more energy available to fix the injury quicker.

What's the Advantage of Wheat Heat Packs?

Can be heated in a microwave with turntable in about two minutes.

A strong but soft fabric allows for comfortable use and an ability to mould to your body shape, which is great for those super curvy areas such as your neck, knees and shoulders. 

You can even pop it in bed with you during those cold winter nights!

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