When people need pain relief,
they are often told to use hot and cold treatment. This is likely the
most common type of non-addictive, passive and non-invasive pain relief
used. It works when the two are used alternatively and many times are
used before any other type of therapy or pain relief is administered.
Though it sounds simple enough, using hot and cold treatment for pain relief should not be done without some knowledge of how and why it works. If you are not sure of how to use it effectively, you should research it or talk with your healthcare provider before you attempt it.
Heat Therapy for Pain Relief:
Using hot packs, heating pads and other forms of heat therapy brings on vasodilation. It brings blood to the target tissues, which delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the injured area and takes away cell wastes. The heat can reduce muscle spasms, minimize pain, relax tense muscles and increase/improve range of motion.
You can use many different heat sources for pain relief. Some forms include heating pads, commercial chemical/gel packs, moist, hot compresses and hydrotherapy. If you choose to use hot packs, wrap them in a towel so you do not get burned. Throw away damaged commercial hot packs because the chemicals in the gel can stain and burn your skin.
Cold Therapy for Pain Relief:
Using cold packs or cold therapy (Cryotherapy) for pain relief brings on vasoconstriction. This reduces pain, muscle spasm and swelling by slowing down circulation.
As with heat therapy, there are many different ways you can create cold therapies. Some of these include iced towels or compresses, commercial cold packs, ice cubes wrapped in a towel, frozen vegetable bags and hydrotherapies. It is a safe and common practice to only use cold therapy for 15 minutes or less, as the effect lasts a while longer than the actual therapy is performed.
Never place ice or a frozen therapy item directly on your skin. Wrap it in a towel to prevent damage to your nerves and skin. And always throw away damaged commercial cold packs, as the chemicals in the gel can stain and burn your skin.
Though it sounds simple enough, using hot and cold treatment for pain relief should not be done without some knowledge of how and why it works. If you are not sure of how to use it effectively, you should research it or talk with your healthcare provider before you attempt it.
Heat Therapy for Pain Relief:
Using hot packs, heating pads and other forms of heat therapy brings on vasodilation. It brings blood to the target tissues, which delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the injured area and takes away cell wastes. The heat can reduce muscle spasms, minimize pain, relax tense muscles and increase/improve range of motion.
You can use many different heat sources for pain relief. Some forms include heating pads, commercial chemical/gel packs, moist, hot compresses and hydrotherapy. If you choose to use hot packs, wrap them in a towel so you do not get burned. Throw away damaged commercial hot packs because the chemicals in the gel can stain and burn your skin.
Cold Therapy for Pain Relief:
Using cold packs or cold therapy (Cryotherapy) for pain relief brings on vasoconstriction. This reduces pain, muscle spasm and swelling by slowing down circulation.
As with heat therapy, there are many different ways you can create cold therapies. Some of these include iced towels or compresses, commercial cold packs, ice cubes wrapped in a towel, frozen vegetable bags and hydrotherapies. It is a safe and common practice to only use cold therapy for 15 minutes or less, as the effect lasts a while longer than the actual therapy is performed.
Never place ice or a frozen therapy item directly on your skin. Wrap it in a towel to prevent damage to your nerves and skin. And always throw away damaged commercial cold packs, as the chemicals in the gel can stain and burn your skin.
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