Cryotherapy (ice pack) is an excellent way to help with acute inflammation in the body. This therapy is well known to help numb painful areas, providing a cooling relief to affected soft tissues. The therapy consists of applying cold compresses on to the skin to effectively reduce the temperature of the skin as well as constrict the blood vessels in the area.
If you are suffering from a recent a soft tissue injury, cryotherapy may be an excellent way to help reduce inflammation (swelling) and further injury in the early stages of your healing process.
Muscle spasms, sore stiff muscles and and degenerative arthritis are usually better addressed with moist heat, which is more penetrating than dry heat.
Hot and cold therapy is inexpensive and is something that can be done at home as well as in the office. Generally treatments should be from 15 minutes ( small joints) to 25 minutes ( large joints), being careful to not injure the skin. treatments can be repeated every one or two hours with recent sprain, strain and contusion injuries.
If you would like to purchase hot/cold packs, which are specially fitted or sized, for home care just let me know.