Many patients that come into the clinic often ask whether they should use ice or heat at home to help with injury, pain, and soreness. Ice and heat are both beneficial when used appropriately to aid in the healing process and help with stiffness or soreness. Cryotherapy and thermotherapy used in isolation without any other intervention is not as effective if it were coupled with exercise or stretching, but can still give temporary relief. It is important to know when to use Ice vs heat to get the best therapeutic results necessary for pain relief. In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of using thermotherapy(heat) and cryotherapy(ice) for post treatment relief.

Benefits of using Thermotherapy

Thermotherapy is typically a common choice for patients when they begin to feel any soreness, stiffness, or even pain because it is more comfortable and feels better than ice. In some cases, heat can do more damage than good if not used not used appropriately. For example, if there is swelling or inflammation in the area heat may exacerbate symptoms. Heat is most used to relive chronic pain and subdue muscle stiffness or soreness. Listed below are some Benefits of using heat for relief.

• Improves circulation – increases blood flow to affected area
• Relaxes and soothes sore or stiff muscles
• Soothes chronic pain such as arthritis
• Increases blood flow – aids in healing damaged tissue
• Helps to reduce muscle spasms

Benefits of using Cryotherapy

While ice is generally not as popular of a choice, it still has many therapeutic benefits to aid in the healing process. Ice is used for acute injuries, acute pain, or swelling and inflammation. Ice is not indicated if you have impaired circulation, cold hypersensitivity, and impaired sensation. These are just a few reasons to choose another option for pain relief due to risk of further injury. Below are some of the therapeutic benefits of cryotherapy:

• Decreases inflammation
• Reduces swelling
• Decreases blood flow – decreases inflammation and swelling
• Slows nerve conduction – assists with pain relief (short duration)

Summary

Aa a General rule ice is best used for acute injuries, acute pain or to reduce swelling and inflammation, while heat is most effective when used for chronic pain or to relive soreness and stiffness in the body. Heat should not be use when swelling or inflammation are present as it can worsen these symptoms. Cryotherapy and thermotherapy are most effective when used for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Generally, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off every hour is optimal to reduce symptoms. If you find yourself with pain or discomfort and the use of ice or heat are not resolving symptoms, stop in to Purcellville Orthopedic Physical Therapy or call us at (540) 751-1970 and we would be happy to get you scheduled for an initial evaluation to get rid of the pain and discomfort you may be feeling. If you have any questions regarding whether it is best to use ice or heat please don’t hesitate to give us a call!