FAQ:
"When should I use heat and when should
I use cold to treat
pain or injuries?
While
both can be very effective, there are times
when one or the
other can cause more harm than good. Therefore
it is important
to know their effects and proper use.
Heat
Therapy Guidelines
Heat
promotes blood flow to an area and is known
as a
"vasodilator", for its "opening"
effect on blood vessels and
capillaries. For tight muscles which suffer
from inhibited blood
flow and the associated oxygen and other nutrients
a healthy
muscle needs, heat can be very helpful as long
as the area is not
inflamed. Moist heat especially can decrease
pain caused by sore
muscles and muscle spasms. (Do a search for
"Thermophore" to
find some great moist heat products!) Heat can
be applied using
gel packs heated in hot water, hot water bottles
(TheraFlex makes
some nice ones), a hot, moist towel, an electric
heating pad
(Thermophore) or by a hot bath, whirlpool or
shower. A heating
pad that creates its own moisture (called a
hydrocollator) is an
easy way to apply moist heat. Paraffin wax treatments
are also
great ways to treat stressed or arthritic joints.
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Take care not to burn or damage the skin. Use extra
caution
if diabetic.
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Place a soft towel or cloth between the heating
pad and the skin.
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Use the heating pad for an hour or less at a time.
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Set the heating pad no higher than the medium (M)
setting.
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Take care when using a heating pad if you are taking
medicines
that make you sleepy or if the area being treated
is numb.
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Remove the heating pad before going to sleep.
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Limit the heat therapy to ten or fifteen minutes
at a time. Try
ten minutes every one to two hours.
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Wait at least twenty-four hours before applying
heat to skin that
has been bruised, cut or used for an injection or
subjected to
any "invasive" procedure. NOTE: Heat can
increase bleeding.
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If the area is sore from overuse or inflamed, use
Cold, NOT Heat!
Cold
Therapy Guidelines
Cold
can reduce muscle spasms that come from joint problems
or
irritated nerves. Cold is the main treatment for
pain caused by
inflamed tissues and other swelling. Cold can stop
the urge to scratch
an itch. For the first line of treatment after a
bruise or muscle strain,
ice should be the first choice.
Plastic-sealed
gel packs provide an easy way to apply cold to a
painful
body part. Wrap the pack with a layer of soft cloth
or even a paper
towel so that it is comfortable next to the skin.
Keep the pack in place
by wrapping it around the body part with a 6 inch
elastic bandage,
(or find a handy compression wrap that does this
for you). They are
reusable and can be kept in the refrigerator or
freezer when not being
used. Follow these guidelines when using cold treatments.
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If the skin becomes irritated or pain increases,
stop using the cold
therapy and notify a health care provider.
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Limit the cold therapy to ten or fifteen minutes,
make sure to be
careful around bony areas, as skin can freeze rapidly
in these areas.
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Avoid use of cold over an area where circulation
is poor or where
there is numbness.
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If the cold causes shivers, stop the treatment right
away.
Do not use cold so extreme that it causes pain.
More
Details|
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