Heat vs. Ice Therapy
After a long day at the office or an intense workout, aches and pains can catch you by surprise. For at home relief, a common question that pops up is if you should grab an ice pack or a warm compress? The answer, like all therapies, is dependent on the person and their specific condition but lets break down the benefits!
Common reasons why you might benefit from heat
Applying heat will increase blood flow to the area, bringing fresh nutrients and oxygen to support healing. It can also help improve muscle flexibility and range of motion.
Relieving pain
Relaxing tight muscles
Easing joint stiffness
Increasing blood flow
Improving flexibility and range of motion
Supporting recovery from long-standing injuries
Common reasons why you might benefit from ice
Applying ice will reduce blood flow to the area helping minimize swelling and warmth. This will limit further injury to the tissue.
Relieving pain
Controlling swelling and warmth
Treating new injuries, like an ankle sprain
Easing delayed onset muscle soreness
Both heat and ice can be effective for managing pain and your preference should be considered. To keep things safe, always remember to protect your skin, avoid applying to areas of numbness, apply for 10-15 minutes, pay close attention to how your body responds & reach out to one of twh’s practitioners to guide you on if ice or heat would be best!
This blog post was written by The Wellness Hub’s chiropractor Dr. Katie White