What Are the Benefits of Hot & Cold Therapy?

Hot and cold therapies have many benefits. Some of the benefits for cold therapy include helping a new injury to heal faster. Heat can help more chronic injuries. There are many different types of cold therapies including ice, cold water or refreezable ice packs. Heat can come in the form of medication that raises the skin's temperature with ingredients like pepper. Other methods include a heating pad, hot water bottle, warm water on a towel or a heated towel fresh from the dryer.

Swelling

• Ice and cooling works by causing the blood vessels to narrow or constrict. By narrowing the blood vessels, not as much blood flow can come to the area. If there is not a rush of blood to the area, the swelling can be lessened.

Muscle Spasm Relief

• Muscle spasms can be caused by an overuse of a specific muscle or group of muscles. This condition can be very painful. The ice can slow down the muscle contractions or spasms to lessen the pain.

Decreased Oxygen Needs

• One area not usually associated with an injury is an organ transplant. The body part is placed in ice to lower the temperature. The lower the body temperature is the less oxygen is needed for the organs. This is a life saving technique.

Immediate injury

• When an injury occurs the best treatment is to usually place ice on the injured area for up to 20 minutes. If ice is kept on longer than 20 minutes, the tissue can be frostbitten. Ice can be reapplied up to every three hours to help manage the pain and swelling. Cold is best used in the first 48 hours after any injury.

Chronic Conditions

• Chronic conditions or injuries include arthritis or lack of appropriate healing from a sprain or area around a broken bone. Heat helps the muscles, ligaments, tendons to relax when they are tight, which usually causes pain. Heat can bring more blood flow to the injured area. In physical therapy, heat will be used prior to exercise to help the muscles, ligaments or tendons to loosen up for easier movement. Heat should not be used for more than 20 minutes at a time on a specific area.

Heat Effect

• When heat is applied to a stiff or rigid muscle, ligament or tendon area it can help the area to relax. When the area is relaxed the body can send more oxygen to the area to help it to heal or reduce pain and soreness. This allows a greater range of motion in the joint area for easier movement.