DON’T
USE HEAT!!!!
We all know that heat feels great and
we think that it’s helping our condition, but that’s wrong!!! It feels good at
the time, but you will feel the consequences of using heat later. Heat
increases blood flow to the injured area, which can cause more swelling. When
heat is applied to an injured joint or muscle, the increased blood flow will
help stretch out a tight muscle, but muscles are elastic in nature. When the
effects of the heat wear off, the muscle will “rebound” back to the level of
tightness previously experienced, if not worse, like snapping a slingshot. So to
avoid more pain, ice the area instead!!!
ICING
WORKS WONDERS!!!
Icing causes blood vessels in the
injured area to contract which decreases swelling. To properly ice the area,
follow these steps:
1. If you have any questions please
ask the doctor. NEVER ice a numb area. Do NOT ice an area that has poor
circulation or a history of frostbite.
2. Wrap an ice pack (can be
substituted with a bag of crushed ice) with a warm, wet rag. NEVER put ice
directly against the skin surface.
3. Place ice across injured area.
While icing you will first experience cold, then a burning feeling, next an
aching sensation, and finally numbness. It may be uncomfortable at first but
there will be a notable difference later.
4. Ice the area for 10 to 15 minutes.
(NOTE: Fingers and toes will become
numb faster than 10 minutes). Take the ice off for 10 minutes to let the area
warm up. Then place the ice on the area
again for 10 minutes. Make sure not to leave ice on for over 20 minutes. Don’t
fall asleep with an ice pack on.
5. Once again if you have any questions ask theDoctor
