Everyone experiences pain, and every pain is different. When you are trying to deal with persistent pain, some days you may need a soothing solution.
Whether it’s a headache, a torn ligament, a sprained ankle, or sore muscles, pain is just a fact of life for many people. And when it comes to relieving pain, there is a lot of confusion over using ice or heat treatments.
Heat and ice are both considered inexpensive, easy-to-use treatment options for daily injuries and pain. While both temperatures can soothe pain, they do so in different ways.
Ice is a great choice for the first 72 hours after an injury because it helps control excessive inflammation, which causes pain. Heat, on the other hand, helps soothe stiff joints and relax muscles.
Ice helps minimize swelling. By applying an ice pack or cold washcloth at the onset of an injury, swelling can be controlled, which minimizes pain. Applying a layer of material between the ice and your skin is highly recommended.
Heat has the opposite effect to ice, it causes small blood vessels to open which can stimulate inflammation rather than relieve it. Heat treatments should be used for chronic conditions to help relax and loosen tissues, and to stimulate blood flow to the area.
Heat can also be applied before participating in activities to help limber up.
However, neither option should be used for more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
MSK-0045 Rev A