Patients often ask when to ice and heat on their injuries. We’re talking minor injuries – sprains, strains, closed fractures and bruises here, not severed limbs.
Mostly it depends on the type and stage of the injury – the “tissue repair phases and timescale” (Watson, 2006) show how the stages overlap during healing. For minor injuries that are new, (acute), ice is your friend. If in doubt, use ice first. Older injuries may be better with heat, especially if muscle spasm is giving you chronic pain.
There’s a Quick Guide and much more in this FREE download Ice or Heat?
If you need more advice, contact us.
