Ice or Heat and Chiropractic Care

Summer time sports injuries.  Do I use heat or do I use ice?  This is a great question and the answer comes with another question or two.  How were you injured and when were you injured?

In general if you suffer any trauma; a fall, a twisted ankle, a blow to the arm, shoulder etc., you should use ice first.  (If the patient loses consciousness you should activated EMS/ call 911 a.s.a.p., that’s a little disclaimer for you.)

Here are some helpful tips:

 The chiropractor’s acronym is R.I.C.E.  This stands for, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation, the other common chiropractic acronym for traumatic injuries is “Ice is nice, Hot is not”.

If you can remember these acronyms, you will be headed in the right direction.  A cold compress can be placed on a paper towel then this is placed on the injured area for fifteen to twenty minutes.  Never lay the injured area directly on ice; this can lead to frost bite.  It is generally accepted that the patient use ice for the first forty eight hours after trauma, then a patient may consider starting contrast therapy or utilizing moist heat. 

Contrast therapy is the practice of altering between ice and heat, every two to three minutes for a total of fifteen to twenty minutes.  Start with heat and end with heat when using contrast therapy.

Never put heat on a fresh or new trauma, it can increase the damage and the blood flow.  This will make a bruise even larger and it can also lead to calcification of the bruise.

Moist heat is great for chronic injuries.  It reduces pain and increases circulation, this speeds up heeling.  It can be placed on the area of pain for fifteen to twenty minutes.  A note of caution; never sleep on a heating pad or sit on a heating pad.  This can lead to serious burns.   A chiropractor can often tell a patient has been sleeping on a heating pad by the appearance of mottled or browned skin as a result of using a heating pad too much and lying on the heating pad.

If you do get hurt playing sports this summer it is wise to seek out the help of a board certified chiropractic sports physician for safe and natural health care.

Don’t delay call today.     364-8086

David J. Moreland, DC, CCSP

Rolla MO and St. James MO area’s full time chiropractor.

1410 Hwy 72 E

Moreland Chiropractic Clinic

This information is for educational purposes only; if a person is hurt or injured it is always prudent to seek the attention of a Chiropractor or Medical doctor.