ÔMANAGING
SUMMERTIME INJURIESÕ
Hardly
a day goes by that someone doesnÕt ask me this simple question- Do I apply heat
to my injury, or do I apply cold? The answer depends on who you ask. Chiropractors,
many physicians and physical therapists for the most part prefer cold.
Massotherapists and other natural healers feel heat is the best therapy. So
whoÕs right?
Hot
and cold therapy is one of the oldest and most valuable of therapies available
and should not be overlooked as part of treatment for injury or ailment. The basics
of anatomy and physiology shed light on why and how each work and when to use
them. Cold forces blood circulation away from the skin and into deeper organs
and tissues including injured joints and muscles bringing much needed nutrients
for healing, relief from swelling, inflammation and pain. Opponents of cold
therapy say you only numb the nerves temporarily and may starve the tissue of
much needed circulation, and cause pain to return in a rebound effect to say
nothing of the tight muscles and joints caused by too much cold.
Heat
on the other hand allows for relaxation of the muscles and joints, relieves
pain without rebound effects, helps the body shed toxins such as lactic acid
through the skin and brings much needed circulation to the effected areas.
There
is only one hard fast rule about hot versus cold and to when to apply it. The
first 48 hours following a burse, break or any kind of blunt injury the
application should be cold after which you may try heat. Cold is a very
effective tool for managing pain, easily as strong prescription pain
medication.
For
a sore back, stiff neck, and or otherwise cranky muscles and joints I tell my
clients to use what feels good. Given that, I have found that for most of my
clients if the complaint turns out to be one of neurological disorder such as a
slipped or bulging disc, sciatic pain, diabetic involvement in the feet with
numbness and tingling heat does not help nor does it feel good but cold does.
If the complaint is one that arises from sore over used healthy muscles and
tendons or involvement with arthritis or fibromyalgia cold is almost painful
and heat works.
My
advice, listen to your body and it will tell you which to use and when. There
are some cautions to be aware of with both, with heat thatÕs obvious. Cold can
be just as damaging numbing to the point that pain signals are ignored and
further damage occurs without medical treatment. If you canÕt decide which to
use try both alternating from hot to cold every fifteen minutes. Till next
time, Rebecca