Schedule an Appointment Today

760-444-0102

We strive for 100% patient satisfaction.
Our clinics are spacious.
We offer on-site Aquatic Therapy.
We use the latest techniques and technologies.
Vista
Rancho Bernardo
National City
Mission Valley
Carmel Valley
Carlsbad

Therapeutic Modalities: Ice

Ankle IceWhich 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?

Ice is great for acute (recent) injuries. It slows down the inflammatory response and decreases swelling or edema to the injured area. Many medical professionals recommend using ice within the first couple days or even right after your injury for this reason. It can also reduce muscle spasms, slow down bleeding, and relieve pain.

However, ice should be avoided in certain cases, which are listed below.

Precautions of using ice

  • Avoid use if you have impaired sensation.
  • Do not use ice if you have compromised circulation, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, or a past history of frostbite.
  • Avoid prolonged application (never more than 1 hour). Monitor your skin for signs of irritation.

As mentioned above, ice is great for certain injuries but not all. Please ask your therapist if ice is okay to use. As with all therapeutic modalities, cryotherapy is best used in conjunction with a supervised therapy plan with either your occupational or physical therapist.

Source

Bracciano, A. G. (2008). Physical Agent Modalities: Theory and Application for the Occupational Therapist (2nd ed.). Thorofare, NJ: SLACK Incorporated.

About the Author - Tiffany

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.