The age old question is, “do I use hot or cold” for my pain?
The quick answer is, “it depends”.
Typically, cryotherapy (or cold therapy) will help reduce inflammation.
Heat will help stimulate blood flow and relax muscles.
A new injury?
Use cryotherapy/cold.
An older injury that is chronic?
Use heat.
Or…
Use what feels better.
Confusing isn’t it?
Every case is different. So there is no cookie cutter approach to treating pain.
To help you decide, here are some benefits of Cryotherapy:
Reduces headaches – this works by slowing the blood flow in your neck and intracranial vessels.
Reduces nerve pain – this works simply by numbing the area that hurts
Reduces swelling – ever sprain your ankle? Ice is the best in this type of scenario.
And here are some benefits of Heat Therapy for pain relief:
Helps with Arthritis pain.
Stiff muscles.
Post workout stiffness.
Here’s one more twist:
Sometimes it helps to alternate between ice and heat.
So ultimately, you have to find what works for you.
If you have any questions, email us back and we can give you some quick advice.
Yours in health.
Dr. Arora
