Patients often ask us if they should use heat or ice to treat various types of pain and injury. While in the past there have been a few prescribed schools of thought, the most current scientific body of knowledge does not conclusively support one or the other. There are pros and cons of both therapies, depending on the type of pain/injury, and the individual patient. As long as these therapies are used safely, we encourage patients to use whichever therapy gives them the most relief.

General guidelines for both heat and cold therapy include:

Apply heat/cold for a maximum duration of 20 minutes at a time.
Allow skin to return to normal temperature before reapplying
Do not combine heat/cold with the use of creams
Do not apply heat/cold directly to the skin. Wrap hot/cold packs in a towel before applying.
Take note of any medications you’re taking that may increase or decrease your sensitivity to pain and/or temperature.

Things to keep in mind:

Heat may increase inflammation
Cold may increase joint stiffness