Hot or Cold?

One of the questions we are often asked is whether heat or cold should be applied after an injury. A good rule of thumb is to apply cold during the first 48-72 hours (2-3 days) after an injury and then progress to heat. Application of cold provides pain relief and slows swelling of the injury. Heat provides pain relief and increases blood flow to provide nutrients to the injured area and increases cell metabolism to promote healing. Always be sure to monitor your skin condition during application of either heat or cold. 15-20 minutes of treatment 2-3 times per day is usually sufficient. Allow the treated area to return to normal body temperature before applying another treatment.