Is Ice or Heat Better?

One of the hottest questions chiropractors get asked. And it's a very good question too! Unfortunately the answer is not as simple and straightforward as we'd all like but we can make it as simple as possible so that you can make a good, informed choice. Let's break it down.

HEAT
When to use:

• Heat can be better used when applied to chronic pain or stress-related pain.

How it works: 

• Relaxes stiffness
  
• Increases the blood flow (which contains much needed oxygen and nutrients) to the muscles and joints which can help with healing damaged tissues
• Stimulates sensory receptors in you skin which helps decrease pain signals to the brain (gate theory)

ICE
When to use:
Ice can be better used when applied to acute injuries and pain.
How it works:

• Decreases swelling in the area by constricting blood vessels which leads to decreased blood flow and slower cell metabolism
• Numbs the pain by numbing the nerve receptors in the injured area due to the decreased blood flow

More importantly than choosing heat or ice is COMPLIANCE. If you prefer one method more than the other and will then be willing to stick to ACTUALLY using it, pick that one even if it's "contrary" to traditional methods. The reason for this is that studies show that both ice and heat can be beneficial in either an acute or chronic injury and pain. The most important predicting factor in how useful heat or ice would be was how compliant the patient was to using the heat or ice. For any injuries or pains that you may be experiencing, we're here and ready to help you at Nurture Family Chiropractic in Guelph, Ontario.