Ice or Heat?
This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions.
Should you use ice or heat to treat your injury?
Many of us remember when we younger and RICE was preached by our coaches and trainers.
R – Rest
I – Ice
C – Compress
E – Elevate
However, times change and so do treatment styles.
Now, it is heat, movement, and electrical stimulation.
Before I explain this, I want to clearly state that you should follow your doctor’s instructions. If you are told, for example, not to stand on your injured ankle, then don’t stand on it. Be smart.
Heat helps to dilate blood vessels which enables more oxygen reach the injured area. Oxygen improves your recovery time. This is one of the reasons that my DPL Therapy is so effective for injuries and even plantar fasciitis.
Movement is important because it helps drive blood to the muscle, again, aiding in recovery.
Electrical Stimulation causes non-fatiguing contractions in muscle tissue, which increases blood flow to the injured area. E-stim can often be used to improve range of motion and muscle control even when you can not put a lot of pressure on the injured area like standing would do.
Put away your ice bags and follow the heat, movement, e-stim steps so you can get back to having fun again!
