Would you like to switch to the accessible version of this site?

Go to accessible site Close modal window

Don't need the accessible version of this site?

Hide the accessibility button Close modal window
Accessibility View Close toolbar

330-426-2700

  • Home
  • 3D Spine Simulator
  • New Patient Center
    • What to Expect
    • Payment Options
    • Chiro Health USA
    • Online Forms
  • Chiropractic and Massage
  • About Us
    • Meet The Team
    • We Are Unique
  • DOT Physicals
  • Orthotics
    • Understanding Your Feet
    • 5 Red Flags of Pronation
    • Styles of Flip Flops
    • Styles of Orthotics
  • Our Proven Techniques
    • Cox Flexion-Distraction
    • Diversified
    • Extremity Adjusting
    • Drop Table
    • Impulse IQ
  • Conditions We Treat
    • Arthritis
    • Sports Injuries
    • Headaches/Migraines
    • Whiplash
    • Osteoporosis
    • Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Contact Us
  • Testimonials
  • Wellness Articles
    • Wellness Lifestyle Tips
      • Eat Well
      • Treat Others Well
      • Treat Yourself Well
    • Wellness Essentials
      • At Home
      • Nutrition
      • What You Wear
      • At Work
      • Exercise
    • Life is Motion
    • Healthy Thinking
      • Get Positive
      • Relaxation Techniques
    • Chiropractic Techniques
    • Chiropractic Therapies
    • Wellness4Kids
    • Wellness Perspectives
      • Spiritual
      • Physical
      • Mental
      • Social
    • About Chiropractic Care
      • Who is Chiropractic For
      • Vertebral Subluxation
      • What is Chiropractic
      • How Does it Work
      • Wellness Resources
    • We May Help You With
      • Improved Health
      • Back and Shoulder Pain
      • Headaches
      • Herniated Discs
      • Conditions Affecting Women
      • Body Pain
      • Chronic Disease Relief
      • Pediatric Ailments
      • Repetitive Use Injuries
      • Auto Accident Injuries
      • Respiratory Function
    • Newsletter Library
      • Nutrition & Healthy Eating
      • Staying Young
      • Staying Motivated
      • Breaking Bad Habits
      • Injury Rehab & Prevention
      • Chronic Conditions
      • Illness Prevention
      • Kid's Health
      • Stress & Anxiety
      • Exercise & Fitness
      • Healthy Tips
      • Life-Work Balance
      • Back, Body & Joint Pain
      • Mind-Body Connection
      • Senior Health
      • Weight Loss
      • Pregnancy & Parenting
      • Wellness
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Newsletter Library >
  • Should I Use Ice or Heat for Pain?

Should I Use Ice or Heat for Pain?

  • Created in Newsletter Library
Heat applied to an ankle

Should you use heat or ice on your painful injury? The best method of solving this important riddle is to assess the nature and source of the pain. Essentially, a new injury, that is, one that you sustained within the last 48 hours, is best treated with ice. Chronic pain, or pain that you have had for a long time, is generally best treated with moist heat. Understanding the mechanisms of injury and the physiological and biochemical causes of pain helps us to differentiate the indications for applying ice or applying moist heat.

The primary rule is that you can never go wrong with applying ice. Ice calms things down and, although an ice application may be uncomfortably cold for a few moments, the overall effect is soothing. Cold decreases local metabolism and constricts small blood vessels (arterioles). Cold reduces nerve conduction velocity, that is, the speed at which nerve impulses are transmitted, and therefore reduces the number of pain signals that reach your brain per unit time. Thus, ice applications provide vasoconstriction, analgesia, and sedation. Ice is indicated for acute musculoskeletal injury, burns, insect bites, bleeding, and snake bites. Ice should not be used for gout, rheumatoid arthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon, history of vascular impairment, and cold allergies. As well, ice should not be used for a patient in a coma.

Moist heat increases local metabolism and dilates small blood vessels. Vasodilation results in increased nutrition, increased activity of white blood cells (phagocytosis), and increased removal of waste (metabolic end-products and damaged cellular structures). Moist heat provides analgesia, sedation, and reduces muscle spasms. Heat is best for chronic pain and muscle spasms. Contraindications to moist heat include acute musculoskeletal injury, area of diminished sensation, acute skin conditions, pregnancy, malignancy, diabetes, encapsulated swelling, hemorrhagic disorders, and suppurative conditions.

Generally, ice applications are used for acute injuries within a 72-hour time frame from the onset of the injury. Acute injury damages local capillaries, causing blood to leak into the spaces between cells and tissues, where it doesn't belong. Such uncontained blood causes pressure on local nerve endings, creating pain. Also, pressure is applied to nearby cells, causing extended injury and possibly cell death. Thus, limiting the amount of blood leaking out of disrupted capillaries is critical in slowing the effects and reducing the impact of musculoskeletal injury. Ice performs this function. Ice reduces swelling, reduces pain, and provides a sedative effect.

When applying ice, it's very important to avoid damaging the skin. Ice packs should always be wrapped in a towel. Ice should rarely be applied directly to the skin. Duration and frequency of ice applications is not an exact science, but a useful guideline is to apply ice for 15 minutes every two hours for a moderately acute injury, using three to four ice applications per day. However, you will know instinctively when the time is right to apply the next ice pack.

Moist heat applications follow similar guidelines. Dry heat should never be used. Moist heat packs should be wrapped in a towel and are applied for 15 minutes every two to three hours, up to several applications per day.

Recovering from injury requires your body to put forth a great deal of effort and requires support from the nerve system, the body's master system. Regular chiropractic care provides great assistance in the process of recovery from an injury. By detecting and correcting spinal misalignments and sources of nerve interference, regular chiropractic care helps ensure optimal functioning of the nerve system. Thus, regular chiropractic care helps facilitate your recovery and helps you return to your full range of activities as quickly as possible.

1McCarberg B, D'Arcy Y: Options in topical therapies in the management of patients with acute pain. Postgrad Med 125(4 Suppl 1):19-24, 2013

2Piana LE, et al: The Cold, Hard Facts of Cryotherapy in Orthopedics. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ) 2018 Sep;47(9). doi: 10.12788/ajo.2018.0075

3Mayer JM, Mooney V: Continuous low-level heat wrap therapy for the prevention and early phase treatment of delayed-onset muscle soreness of the low back: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 87(10):1310-1317, 2006

  • Wellness Lifestyle Tips
    • Eat Well
    • Treat Others Well
    • Treat Yourself Well
  • Wellness Essentials
    • At Home
    • Nutrition
    • What You Wear
    • At Work
    • Exercise
  • Life is Motion
  • Healthy Thinking
    • Get Positive
    • Relaxation Techniques
  • Chiropractic Techniques
  • Chiropractic Therapies
  • Wellness4Kids
  • Wellness Perspectives
    • Spiritual
    • Physical
    • Mental
    • Social
  • About Chiropractic Care
    • Who is Chiropractic For
    • Vertebral Subluxation
    • What is Chiropractic
    • How Does it Work
    • Wellness Resources
  • We May Help You With
    • Improved Health
    • Back and Shoulder Pain
    • Headaches
    • Herniated Discs
    • Conditions Affecting Women
    • Body Pain
    • Chronic Disease Relief
    • Pediatric Ailments
    • Repetitive Use Injuries
    • Auto Accident Injuries
    • Respiratory Function
  • Newsletter Library
    • Nutrition & Healthy Eating
    • Staying Young
    • Staying Motivated
    • Breaking Bad Habits
    • Injury Rehab & Prevention
    • Chronic Conditions
    • Illness Prevention
    • Kid's Health
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Healthy Tips
    • Life-Work Balance
    • Back, Body & Joint Pain
    • Mind-Body Connection
    • Senior Health
    • Weight Loss
    • Pregnancy & Parenting
    • Wellness

New patients receive a free consultation!

  • 3-D Simulator

    Have you ever wondered why it hurts one place, but find out that's not where the problem is? If so, check out the 3-D simulator!

  • Services

    We strive to provide complete care for our patients. Learn more about all the services we provide.

  • Online Forms

    Our patient forms are available online so they can be completed in the convenience of your home.

Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

9:00 AM-6:00 PM

Tuesday:

9:00 AM-1:00 PM

Wednesday:

3:00 PM-8:00 PM

Thursday:

9:00 AM-1:00 PM

Friday:

Closed

Saturday:

8:00 AM-1:00 PM

Sunday:

Closed

Location

Find us on the map

  • "I have never personally been there however I did go to school with Laura and if her business is a reflection of who she was n school well then I give it a thumbs up. Best of wishes and God bless."
    Idonna M.
  • ACL Injury and Chiropractic

    You may not think of your knee and back being related, but chiropractic treatment can actually help prevent and care for injury to your ACL. ...

    Read More
  • Back Friendly Yard Work Tips

    Do you love to garden or engage in home improvement activities? Do so safely with these back-friendly tips. ...

    Read More
  • Chiropractic and Breech Babies During Pregnancy

    If you are experiencing back pain during your pregnancy or have a breech pregnancy, chiropractic can help. ...

    Read More
  • Natural Remedies for Sciatic Pain

    Do you experience sciatica pain? Both chiropractic care and at-home remedies can help alleviate that pain in a natural way. ...

    Read More
  • Chiropractic Care For Pets

    You know how chiropractic can help you, but what about your pets? ...

    Read More
  • Should I Use Heat or Ice for Pain?

    When you're feeling pain, sometimes it's difficult to determine if heat or ice will treat that pain best. This article will help you learn which is best for different types of injuries and pain. ...

    Read More
  • Should I Use Ice or Heat for Pain?

    Did you hurt your knee during an intense game of pick-up basketball this weekend? Or do you deal with chronic pain? Learn whether you should apply heat or ice for particular kinds of pain. ...

    Read More
  • Relationship with Self

    The relationship you have with yourself and the journey to self-understanding is an important part of your overall wellness. ...

    Read More
  • Indoor Activities and Exercises

    Are you preparing for the winter months or looking for exercises to do when you can't make it to the gym? Follow these exercises to maintain a healthy fitness routine. ...

    Read More
  • Holiday Stress - Take a Deep Breath

    Most of us pay little attention, if any, to the daily functioning of our many physiological systems. Our hearts beat, our digestive systems digest, and our various hormones, such as those deriving from the thyroid gland, adrenal gland, and pancreas, do what they do. It's all good... until it's not. ...

    Read More

Newsletter Sign Up