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Tiffany is a certified and licensed occupational therapist in the state of California. She completed her Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Southern California and Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology at the University of California, San Diego. Tiffany has experience with hand therapy, hospital rehabilitation, and stroke rehabilitation. She is passionate about hand therapy and has experience working with numerous diagnoses, such as repetitive strain injuries (e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome, DeQuervain’s syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome), nerve decompression repairs, wrist and hand fractures and sprains, arthritis, trigger fingers, and tendon/nerve repairs.
The age-old question: Heat or ice? While ice is ideal for certain injuries, heat also can provide symptom relief for a variety types of health conditions. In this article, I will focus on thermotherapy, or superficial heat modalities, which affect underlying tissue to a depth of 1-2 centimeters. These can include heat/hot packs, fluidotherapy, and paraffin baths.
Which is better, heat or ice? Patients ask me that all the time. And my answer is: it depends. Both are good, but good for different things. In this article, I will focus on cryotherapy or “cold”/ice therapy. This can include ice packs, whirlpools, cooling sprays, or the ever popular frozen peas.
First of all, what does ice do to your body? In general, The metabolic activity of the tissue decreases, and nerve conduction becomes slower. It can reduce muscle spasms and guarding (when your muscles are tense from having pain). Basically, everything becomes slower with ice. How can that help someone with an injury?
While best known for its imaging, ultrasound has many applica
tions in medicine. It can diagnose or treat, depending on its parameters (frequency, duty cycle, intensity). In therapy, ultrasound is commonly used to treat soft tissue injuries. It can facilitate the healing process, speed recovery, and decrease pain if utilized correctly.
Does it hurt to pinch or grab items, even light ones? Is opening a jar your worst nightmare? Do you have pain and/or inflammation at the base of your thumb and nowhere else? You may have osteoarthritis (OA) in the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint of your thumb. This joint is where your thumb and wrist meet. Most people associate OA with hips or knees, but it can also happen at the base of the thumb.