Sooner or later, the weekend warrior or dedicated athlete suffers an acute musculoskeletal injury. Acute injuries are typically defined as the 48-t0-72 period from the point of trauma.
So what can you do to help the healing process? Cryotherapy (cold) and thermotherapy (heat) are two common methods used by rehab specialists.
Here’s how to know which therapy to apply:
Usually, it’s best to apply cold to the injury between 48-72 hours to help decrease bleeding and inflammation, pain and spasm. After 72 hours, apply heat the injury site to increase blood flow and nutrients to the area to help rebuild the damaged tissues.
The effects of cold and heat on your body:
When applying cold to an injury, expect changes in that area of the body. Vasoconstriction, the narrowing of blood vessels, reduces bleeding. As blood flow decreases, so does cellular metabolism. That helps to reduce swelling to the injured area. Cold helps to increase a patient’s pain threshold making them more comfortable after the injury occurs. You can expect muscle elasticity to decrease, which helps to reduce muscle spasms around the injury site.
When applying heat to an injury, vasodilation — or the widening of blood vessels — increases blood flow to the injury site. As blood flow increases, so does cellular metabolism that increases nutrients sent to the injury site. That speeds healing and recovery. Similar to cryotherapy, thermotherapy also helps to increase the patient’s pain threshold and decrease muscle spasm.
Remember, applying cold to an injury at any point after it occurs is never a bad idea. When using both cryotherapy and thermotherapy, the acronym RICE also helps in the recovery process. R (rest), I (ice), C (compression), E (elevation).
Always consult your doctor regarding concerns. For more information on injuries and rehabilitation, visits the Hartford HealthCare Rehabilitation Network.