The decision of whether to use a heat pack or cold compress on a painful area can often leave patients confused. So we thought we’d try to answer this question!
Applying heat to an area helps to dilate nearby blood vessels, increasing blood flow and therefore nutrients to the area. This can be really helpful in reducing the sensation of stiffness or tightness at the site of an injury. Heat application may be useful in helping to treat chronic conditions including muscular spasm/tension, lower and upper back pain.
Using an ice pack or cold compress helps to slow the blood flow to the injured area, which may help reduce swelling and pain. This can be particularly useful for an acute injury such as a sprain or strain.
However, this is just a general rule of thumb and some people may prefer to apply heat to an acute injury, and cold to something more chronic. It is important to ensure safety when applying hot/cold therapy, ensuring extra care is taken in those with reduced circulation or sensation, however for most people, it is a quick, safe and cost-effective way of helping to manage pain.
So, the answer to the question, ‘should I use hot or cold?’ is to use which feels best for you! We recommend applying either heat or cold to the affected area for up to 20 minutes at a time, and some people may choose to alternate between the two!