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Hot or cold?

Tinnuk Posts: 291 Joined: 2005/12/19	2008/01/25, 03:49 PM Does it make a difference whether heat or cold is applied to a sports injury? If so, what kinds of ailments call for which?
	2008/01/25, 04:16 PM It does make a difference. Are you talking about acute or chronic injuries? Cold is generally used for acute while heat for chronic.
Ravenbeauty Posts: 3,755 Joined: 2002/09/24	2008/01/25, 05:57 PM Also that question is a bit vague, wouldn't you say? Could you be more specific in the type of injury/injuries you are inquiring about? That way someone can better assist you. -------------- Bettia Life is all about timing... the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable become available, the unattainable... attainable. Have the patience, wait it out It is all about timing. -Stacey Chapman
wrestler125 Posts: 4,619 Joined: 2004/01/27	2008/01/27, 04:04 PM Cold reduces inflammation because it constricts blood vessels. Kind of counterintuitive, yes, but anyone that says it doesn't is probably full of shit. Sorry, but it seems to be the new fashionable "thing" to say that RICE is stupid. Heat brings more blood into an area, which can speed healing, but cause more inflammation. In short, what KA said... -------------- SQUAT MORE ~Jesse Marunde Blood Guts Sweat Chalk
amyksmith76 Posts: 601 Joined: 2005/07/26	2008/01/28, 01:32 PM I'm so glad someone posted this. I've got the torn meniscus thing going on, so I'm supposed to ice it every day, a few times a day. At the same time, I take a HOT bath (deep jacuzzi tub, fully emerged) almost every night before bed to unwind. I've been trying to keep my knee out of the water by resting my leg on the side of the tub, but wonder if this is really necessary to avoid the hot water.
wrestler125 Posts: 4,619 Joined: 2004/01/27	2008/01/28, 03:53 PM I'm a huge fan of omega-3's as a natural anti-inflammation agent, so depending on how long its been I'd probably cut back on the ice treatments and start a high dose fish oil protocol, maybe with some NSAIDS (ibuprofen, etc). Of course, if still in the acute stages of the tear, then ice by all means... -------------- SQUAT MORE ~Jesse Marunde Blood Guts Sweat Chalk
amyksmith76 Posts: 601 Joined: 2005/07/26	2008/01/28, 04:11 PM Cool. Thanks Wrestler. I take daily fish oil/omega 3 supplements anyway, and I'm currently on prescription Naprosyn for the inflammation, so I guess I'm on the right track. I'll start cutting back on the ice and see how I do. Thanks again.
Tinnuk Posts: 291 Joined: 2005/12/19	2008/01/28, 04:16 PM I seem to recall the alternation of hot and cold being advocated at some point or another, maybe even on this site, would that be advisable?
Tinnuk Posts: 291 Joined: 2005/12/19	2008/01/28, 04:18 PM Also, what does RICE stand for again?
	2008/01/28, 06:45 PM Rest Ice Compression Elevation
wrestler125 Posts: 4,619 Joined: 2004/01/27	2008/01/29, 10:28 AM Contrast treatment (hot and cold) is generally used for increasing blood flow. You may have heard it recommended in the form of contrast baths or contrast showers. A lot of powerlifters do this after a tough workout to aid recovery, but I wouldn't recommend it for injury treatment. -------------- SQUAT MORE ~Jesse Marunde Blood Guts Sweat Chalk