There is still a lot of confusion in the use of Ice Bag Thermotherapy for inflammation, muscle stiffness, joint pain, and other injuries. When is a cold compress appropriate? Are there any conditions under which these two methods are not recommended? The type of treatment you need depends on the type of injury you are suffering. It's not your ankle or elbow, it's acute or chronic. Acute injury refers to the injury that occurred in the past 48 hours. For athletes, this is usually due to falls or collisions. Chronic injury is an injury that develops slowly, usually due to overuse or because previous injuries do not heal properly. Think about when you run more than five miles, you may feel knee pain since you have tendinitis. Chronic pain may not make you listless, but it can make you fidgety.

What type of injury should you ice?

The best practice is to apply ice to acute or new injuries. Acute injuries, such as sprains, include tissue damage and inflammation around the site of injury. An acute injury is a short-term injury.

Some common acute injuries are as follows:

• Ankle Sprain

• Sprain of knee joint

• Muscle or Joint Sprain

• Redness, Fever or Swelling of body parts

• Acute Pain after strenuous exercise

Tips For Cold Compress

As with any injury, a quick reaction is important. The earlier ice reduces inflammation, the more likely the wound is to heal quickly (ice can limit/prevent internal bleeding). Ice can also be used after high-intensity exercise to prevent or reduce inflammation.

Be sure to limit the freezing time to 20 minutes, because excessive freezing can cause skin irritation or tissue damage. Continue to ice the wound for 24-48 hours. Some people are very sensitive to cold. Most studies have shown that too long a cold compress is not good. For a long time, the body has adapted to the cold, even if the cold still exists, blood circulation also began to return to normal. Therefore, it is best to let the body warm again (compression application) so that subsequent cold application will reduce local circulation when applied again later.

If you are not sure if you need ice or heat therapy, or further medical care, our doctor will recommend appropriate treatment based on your personal needs. If pain leads to limited movement, physical therapy may be an option.

What types of injuries should you apply a hot compress to?

Chronic pain or illness usually requires hyperthermia. Chronic pain indicates that the body has not yet fully healed and the pain often recurs. Some common chronic diseases include:

• Muscle Pain

• Joint Stiffness

• Arthritis

• Old Injury / Recurrent Injury

The effect of hyperthermia is opposite to that of cryotherapy. Different from the ability of cold therapy to constrict blood vessels, heat can dilate blood vessels and relax muscles. Heating can produce a soothing effect.

Tips For Hot Compress

This soothing effect occurs because heat also stimulates circulation, increases tissue elasticity, and provides pain relief. Hyperthermia is generally not used after activities. A hot wet towel or heating pad / Hot Water Bag can be used for heating. A hot bath or shower can also relieve pain.

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