Thursday, December 12th, 2024

Should I apply ice or heat to injury, swelling and pain? Know which therapy is best


If there is an injury anywhere, it needs to be treated in order to heal it in time. Now many people are in a dilemma whether it is better to apply hot water on the injured area or apply ice. Both ice and hot water have their own benefits.

There are different times and situations to use both of them. It also depends on the type of injury. If there is excessive strain in the muscles, it gets cured by applying ice. Due to cold, the blood vessels contract, which reduces the effect of blood.

Dr. S., HOD of Internal Medicine, Saroj Superspeciality Hospital, New Delhi. Of. mundra According to , applying ice helps a lot in reducing pain and curing swelling. When the injury becomes chronic, it should be applied with warm water. Generally, fomentation should be done with warm water only 2 days after the injury.

Use of ice in case of muscle strain

If there is severe muscle strain or pain, ice should be applied for 10-15 minutes every one to two hours. From the next day, apply ice every three-four hours. You should not exercise too much if you have an injury. Very light exercise may be beneficial.

heat therapy for injuries

heat therapy for injuries

Swelling and pain occur after injury to any part of the body. In such a situation, you should apply ice but after two days i.e. when the swelling reduces after 48 hours, you should apply warm water to increase blood flow in the muscles. It is also called heat therapy. Due to swelling and pain, the muscles become stiff and stiff. Therefore, heat therapy should be given to give it relief.

Ice or Heat Formation: Which fomentation to do in joint pain, hot or cold? Know Dr. Debashish Chanda

Hot compress for arthritis and period pain

Hot compress for arthritis and period pain

Problems like old muscle injury or arthritis get a lot of relief by applying warm water. During menstruation, women use heating pads or fill hot water in bottles. Applying warm compress relaxes the muscles and provides relief from pain. Soak a cotton cloth or towel in warm water and apply it on the affected area. Keep in mind that the temperature of the water should not be too high. If there is any open injury on the skin, ice or hot water should not be used directly. To bathe with hot water, its temperature should not be too high otherwise it may cause further burning.

use of ice for fomentation

use of ice for fomentation

When you have a serious injury, there is swelling at that place. In such a situation, applying ice immediately after the injury is considered to be the most effective treatment. This is also called therapy. This reduces swelling at the site of injury and provides considerable relief from pain as it regulates blood flow to that area. When there is an injury at any place, the body reacts by increasing blood flow to that place, which causes pain and swelling.

Things to keep in mind while training

Things to keep in mind while training

Irrigation should not be done with very hot water. Along with this, if the skin feels too cold while applying ice or the skin starts becoming numb, then the application should be stopped. Applying fomentation at home provides a lot of relief, but in case of injury, you should definitely consult a doctor and do fomentation at home only after his/her consultation.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It cannot in any way be a substitute for any medicine or treatment. Always consult your doctor for more information.

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