Choosing heat and ice for muscle pain

Heat and ice fit in with the chiropractic adherence to drug-free pain management. For anyone struggling with chronic muscle pain, heat and ice can do wonders when used correctly. “Correctly” being the operative word; many people don’t know (or don’t care to know) the difference between the two. But understanding the difference helps you to determine when to use heat or ice to maximum effect. Do you know what heat and ice do for you? Read on to find out. 

Which do I reach for heat versus ice?

Both are used to treat muscle pain, but the circumstances determine which should be called for! 

• Heat: this type of therapy is used to influence relaxation making it a good call when you are experiencing stiffness in the joints or muscles. Arthritis-type pain is a good example of when heat is effective, as the heat is able to penetrate into the injurious region and open it up to enhanced blood circulation. This brings in oxygen and nutrients and takes out waste products
• Cold: surprise! this type of therapy essentially does the opposite of heat. It slows blood flow to the area which is useful when you are suffering from swelling and inflammation. It also helps to numb pain signals between the region and your brain. 

Heat and ice are effective ways to manage your pain

As you can see, it is important to understand your pain and what is causing it. We can help you there- chiropractic focuses on treating the root cause rather than the symptoms and heat and ice can be an incredibly effective part of pain  management when utilized correctly. If you are interested in rehabilitating an injury or preventing pain without the necessity for drugs or surgical intervention, give our office in Sacramento a call to schedule an appointment today.