Ice VS. Heat: What to Use and When

Life is full of bumps and bruises. And if you’ve found yourself injured, there seems to be a lot of differing information online about whether or not you should be using heat or ice to help manage pain and reduce inflammation.

As your partner in health, we wanted to help you choose what’s best for you.

Here are a few tips for choosing heat and ice when it comes to specific injuries.

Headaches: If you have a throbbing headache, instead of reaching for a pain reliever like ibuprofen, consider using a cool compress at the base of your skull and around your neck. Suffer from frequent headaches? Book a visit with us.

New Injuries (less than six weeks old): Ice is usually the winner when it comes to new injuries. That’s because ice can help reduce pain and inflammation. Heat, on the other hand, may feel comforting in the moment but it can also increase inflammation in new injuries.

Chronic Injuries (older than six weeks): Choose a heating pad over large muscle areas for lingering injuries as the warmth may help promote circulation and relax tight muscles, which can offer relief.  Avoid placing heating pads over bony areas and joints, as this can contribute to joint effusion (swelling) and cause compression and dysfunction of these areas.

Strains or Sprains: Using both heat and ice can be beneficial. Immediately after a strain or sprain, choose ice to help reduce swelling and inflammation. After a few days, when inflammation has gone down, alternate ice with moist warmth to help flush inflammatory byproducts and relieve  stiffness.

Need More Help?

We’re always here for you. If you’re dealing with a new or chronic injury, consider booking a visit with our practice to find out how natural, gentle chiropractic adjustments can help you recover. We’d love to welcome you into the practice!